Emerald Preschool community settles into new space following smoke and fire damage

Local families, children, and staff have settled into the refurbished Emerald Preschool, following rectification works and temporary service relocation due to fire and smoke damage earlier this year.

The fire broke out in the 3-year-old kindergarten room on 5 February, causing extensive smoke damage throughout the preschool, requiring substantial rectification works.

Cardinia Shire Council, in partnership with the Early Years Manager (EYM), One Tree Community Services, and the Department of Education, have worked consistently since the fire to complete the building restoration within a very short timeframe and with minimal disruption to the children’s education and family routines.

The Council’s Early Years team worked closely with One Tree Community Services and the Department of Education to ensure both kindergarten programs could be relocated within the local community.

For the remainder of the first term, the 3-year-old kindergarten classes were relocated to St. Marks Childcare Centre in Emerald and the 4-year-old classes were relocated to Emerald Primary School. A small number of families elected to be transferred to Avonsleigh Preschool, as the timetable better suited their needs.

Neighbouring council the City of Casey  generously supported the displaced service by lending furniture and equipment during the refurbishment project.

At the start of Term 2, both 3- and 4-year-old children were joyfully welcomed back into the newly restored Emerald Preschool, and Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Jack Kowarzik, Ranges Ward Councillor Jeff Springfield, and Council staff from the Early Years team recently visited the service to see how the children and educators had settled in. 

Mayor Kowarzik said it was wonderful to see everyone at-home in the refurbished facility and thanked all those involved and impacted during the project for their dedication, understanding and support.

“It’s always so satisfying to see our community not only using Council facilities but making them their home away from home,” the Mayor said. 

“It was no different for us visiting today; seeing and hearing how the kids, families and teachers have settled in at the centre during Term 2 and have recently returned, full of enthusiasm, for Term 3.”

“On behalf of Cardinia Shire Council, I’d like to thank all the staff involved from Cardinia Shire and City of Casey Councils, the Early Years Manager, Department of Education, and of course the local families of the service. It was their tireless and collaborative efforts that made this achievement possible,” he continued.

“Thank you to everyone involved, from the discovery of the fire through to today – especially the families, the Preschool staff, and the local community for their patience and understanding throughout.”

Cardinia Shire Ranges Ward Councillor Jeff Springfield commended the families and educators of the service for their patience, understanding and cooperation.

“I’m very proud to be a part of the Hills community, never more-so than when I see us all coming together to support one another. I’d like to thank the families and educators at Emerald Preschool for their flexibility and consideration and share how impressed I am with their resilience during what must have been a stressful time,” Cr Springfield said.

“It was fantastic to see the children learning and playing, and the teachers enjoying the refurbished building. I look forward to seeing our local community enjoying it for many, many more years to come.”

For more information about kindergarten in Cardinia Shire, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/kindergarten.