Jo Palmer, Minister for Education
Construction planning is officially underway for the new Huonville Early Childhood Education and Care Centre.
The purpose-built centre will be co-located with Huonville Primary School and will provide 200 places for local children and families once complete in the first half of 2028. The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government's Building Early Education Fund, the Tasmanian Government and Huon Valley Council.
With statutory planning approval in place, funding secured, and concept design proposed, the project is moving to the next critical stage.
A multi-stage tender process is underway to seek a contractor to finalise the design and then build the new centre, with an appointment expected in late 2026. Final designs will be shared with the community as they take shape.
Huon Valley Council has selected the preferred tenderer and expects to formally appoint the builder in the coming month. Construction is scheduled to start by mid-2027 and finish by mid-2028.
The community can keep up to date on this project by visiting Huon Valley Council's dedicated project page on Engage Huon Valley: engage.huonvalley.tas.gov.au/huonville-early-childhood-education-centre
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins
"Huonville is a growing region, and local families need the services to grow with it – and that's exactly what the Huonville Early Childhood Education and Care Centre will help achieve.
"This centre will create more places for local children and give families the certainty of knowing quality care is available close to home.
"I made this commitment at the last Federal Election and I'm proud to see the project now one step closer to delivering this vital service to the community.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Jess Walsh
"Local children deserve access to quality early education and care that will give them a great start in life.
"They deserve the chance to learn, grow and thrive in the years that matter most.
"Co-locating this service with Huonville Primary School will also help children transition smoothly to school and give families a one-stop drop in the morning and afternoon.
"Our Building Early Education Fund is building more quality not-for-profit services where families need them most, including in regional and outer-suburban areas."
Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Education, Jo Palmer
"We have stepped up and partnered with the Federal Government to identify suitable, available land to enable new services to be built.
"Here in the Huon, co-locating the early childhood education and care centre with Huonville Primary School will not only provide hundreds of families access to childcare but support a smooth transition to school as children in the Huon Valley reach Kindergarten age.
"As part of this partnership, five other new long day care centres for birth to five-year-olds will be constructed on school grounds in regional areas where there is a clear need.
"Services will be built at Westbury Primary and St Marys District School in the North, and Rosetta Primary, Bruny Island and Bothwell District High Schools in the South."
Quotes attributable to Huon Valley Council Mayor, Sally Doyle
"This is a great milestone for Huonville and the wider Huon Valley. Council has long advocated for greater investment in early learning, and with funding and approvals now locked in thanks to our partnership with the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, we're excited to be officially underway.
"Once complete, the centre will give many more local families access to quality, affordable early learning, closer to home.
"This isn't just great news for families needing affordable, high-quality childcare - it's also a boost for the local economy. In addition to the construction jobs, the centre will generate up to 10 new full-time childcare roles once it is fully operational, providing meaningful opportunities into the future."
