Nillumbik Shire Council will now concentrate on developing a plan to extend the existing community facilities at the former Hurstbridge Secondary College site to create the new family centre for Hurstbridge. Councillor Lewis Brock who leads the Advisory Group said that Council had been in negotiations with the State and Federal Government for further funding for the initial concept plan focused on the preschools sites. The Federal Government has advised Council that no further money, beyond the original commitment, is available for the project. Council is awaiting written confirmation from the State Government regarding this request.
'In essence this means that the two existing preschools will stay in their current location and that they now have certainty over their future. We will now work towards developing a concept for the extension and upgrade to the existing community centre at the former Hurstbridge Secondary College site.
Whilst it would have been nice to have brand new facilities for Hurstbridge this is a good compromise which means that the residents of Hurstbridge will still have access to child and maternal and child health, allied health services, long day care and preschool programs.'
Council is close to finalising the purchase of part of the former Hurstbridge Secondary College and the car park to the north of the site. An aerial site photo of the location (Lot 2) can be viewed on this page or downloaded from the link below.
While we are able to start making plans there is still some way to go before a family centre in Hurstbridge becomes a reality. This has been a lengthy process for residents as we have been trying to identify the right location and design possible with the funds available to ensure the best result for all. It began back in July 2010 when funding was announced and since then Council has been working through the process of trying to find a suitable location and design.
'Council always knew there was a risk of a funding shortfall and once the proposed site (where the two current pre-schools are based) was designated as flood area this added significantly to the cost of building a new facility.'
