200 new kindergarten places in Burnside

Zahli and Eden with Butterfly Stilt Walker at the Burnside Children’s and Community Centre opening. Picture: Melton City Council

A new $4.48 million children’s and community centre at Burnside will provide nearly 200 places for kindergarten-aged children from this year.

The centre opened last Friday and will offer 198 kindergarten places for three and four-year-olds, 25 occasional care places, maternal and child health, parenting groups, early intervention services and playgroups.

Melton mayor Kathy Majdlik says the centre will not just deliver children’s services but also a range of community and culture- building programs that have yet to be revealed.

The council contributed $2.8 million towards the project, which began construction in February last year.

The Burnside opening followed a Star Weekly report that Brimbank council may also approve a new childcare centre at Cairnlea for up to 116 children.

A planning permit application found there had been a “restricted market” for several years in childcare centres to serve local families.

“I’m delighted that the Burnside Children’s and Community Centre has been opened,” Cr Majdlik said.

“This new centre is delivering services that reflect children’s interests and encourage investigation, discovery and play, while bringing together a range of programs that build culture, identity and connectivity in emerging communities.”