Victorian Government pairs up with Merri-bek City Council to expand kinder availability

The Victorian Government will partner with Merri-bek City Council to expand three kindergartens in Merri-bek – Lorne Street Kindergarten in Fawkner, Turner Street Kindergarten in Pascoe Vale South, and the Pascoe Vale Community Centre kindergarten – together creating around 100 new kindergarten places for local families.

This announcement complements the existing expansion work that has been completed at  Doris Blackburn Preschool in Pascoe Vale South, made possible through a $1.35 million Building Blocks Capacity grant, which has created an additional 40 places for local children. 

Lorne Street Kindergarten will undergo a $1.35 million expansion to install a new kindergarten building, with works commencing in July 2023 and finishing by Term 1, 2024. 

A grant of $500,000 will upgrade Turner Street Kindergarten through the installation of a new kitchen, lunchroom and bathroom, offering eight new places by the start of 2024. 

A further $400,000 supports the expansion of Pascoe Vale Community Centre kindergarten – with project works to deliver more than 40 new kindergarten places by early 2025. 

Funding for these projects is provided as part of the Labor Government’s Building Blocks Partnership with Merribek Council, with an investment of up to $10.7 million for 11 new and expanded kindergarten projects across the community. 

By 2026, the partnership will deliver more than 320 extra kindergarten places for local families. Since 2021, the Victorian Government has entered Building Blocks partnerships with 10 local councils to build 68 new and expanded kindergartens and create more than 9,250 new kinder places across the state.