Corangamite Shire Council has voted to apply for Victorian School Building Authority funding to expand early years facilities in Skipton, responding to the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life kindergarten reforms.
The reforms will require councils to deliver 25 hours of funded four-year-old kindergarten by 2029, rising to 30 hours by 2031.
Corangamite Shire Council has endorsed a staged expansion plan designed to accommodate the increased hours while protecting current childcare placements.
Mayor Kate Makin voiced support for the project, noting community demand for expanded services, particularly for babies and toddlers. The Mayor identified the demand through the Council’s earlier Early Years Plan consultation.
Further planning and community consultation will precede any construction, with Council committing to keep families, staff and the broader community informed throughout the process.
