Construction is now underway on the $2.65 million expansion of Brown Hill Kindergarten, delivering additional kindergarten places and upgraded facilities for local families.
The project is jointly funded by the City of Ballarat and the Victorian Government, with a $750,000 Building Blocks Grant from the Victorian School Building Authority. The City of Ballarat has contributed $1.9 million to this important project.
Located near Brown Hill Reserve in Reid Court, the expansion will deliver a new 33-place kindergarten room, increasing the centre's total capacity to 99 places and helping meet growing demand for early years services in the area.
The project will also upgrade existing indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring the kindergarten continues to provide inclusive and welcoming learning environments for local children and families well into the future.
Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle, representing Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn, visited the site this week alongside City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves to mark the commencement of works.
Pictured: Children from Brown Hill Kindergarten with the Mayor of Ballarat, Cr Tracey Hargreaves, and Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle.
Cr Hargreaves said the project represented an important investment in Ballarat's growing community.
"Access to quality early childhood education helps give children the best start in life," she said.
"As Brown Hill continues to grow, it's important that community infrastructure keeps pace with the needs of local families.
"This expansion will enable Brown Hill Kindergarten to accommodate more children while enhancing facilities for educators, children and their families. We're pleased to see construction underway and thank the Victorian Government for its support in helping deliver this important project."
Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle said Brown Hill Kindergarten is a much-loved part of the community, and it's fantastic to see this expansion now underway for local families.
"This is a wonderful investment in Brown Hill, creating more kindergarten places and better facilities for local children and families," she said.
"It's great to see Brown Hill Kindergarten growing to meet the needs of our community and give more local children the best possible start."
Alongside the new kindergarten room, the project includes upgrades to outdoor play spaces, staff facilities, storage areas and internal learning spaces. Improvements will also be made to the car park, pedestrian pathways, building security and air conditioning throughout the facility.
The expansion supports the City of Ballarat's Kindergarten Infrastructure and Services Plan, which identified the need for additional kindergarten capacity in the Brown Hill area.
Construction is expected to be completed in mid-2027, with the new kindergarten room anticipated to welcome its first cohort of children at the start of the 2028 school year.
Pictured: City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves, Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle and Jo Geurts, ECKA CEO
