City of Ballarat Council has approved the awarding of the tender for the new Alfredton Community Hub.
At the February 2023 Ordinary Council meeting on Wednesday, Council approved the officer's recommendation for Ballarat company CIQ Construction Management Pty Limited to undertake the project at a cost of $6,457,305.
The Donegal Drive community facility will accommodate a diverse range of users, foster a sense of place, and ensure kindergarten infrastructure meets demand.
The purpose-built community facility will feature three preschool rooms to accommodate 99 children at a time, two community rooms, a meeting room, and associated staff facilities.
The State Government is contributing $2.25 million toward the project, with the remainder being sourced from the Developer Contributions Plan.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was positive to see the project progressing as planned.
"As Ballarat continues to expand to the west, it is crucial we keep up and provide the community with integral infrastructure," Cr Hudson said.
"The Alfredton Community Hub will include the construction of 99-place kindergarten, but it will also accommodate a diverse range of users and become something of which the whole community can be proud.
"To have the tender now awarded to a local company is another big step forward and we can't wait to see works begin."
As identified in the Community Infrastructure Plan 2022-2037, the population in Ballarat's west is forecast to grow by 73 per cent from 2021-2036.
Other key growth forecasts from 2021-2036 include:
A 65% increase in births in Ballarat's west
A 157% increase in families with dependent children in Cardigan, Lucas and Bunkers Hill
A 36% increase in families with dependent children in Alfredton
A 408% increase in residential developments in Cardigan, Lucas and Bunkers Hill
It is hoped the hub will be opened in 2024.
