By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A MUCH-NEEDED childcare facility in Clyde North was officially opened this week.
The $3.4 million Selandra Family and Children’s Centre, formally opened on Thursday 3 September, includes three kindergarten rooms, two Maternal and Child Health Service consultation rooms, a community space and meeting room for community use.
Casey mayor Mick Morland said the new facility would help ease the current demand for early years services in the expanding Clyde North region.
“Clyde North is an area which is experiencing rapid growth and is estimated to have a future population of 18,500 people,” he said.
“To support the many families attracted to the area, it is imperative that infrastructure and facilities which support the delivery of education and health services to locals are provided.
“The council is committed to ensuring our children have every opportunity to excel in life.
“The experiences and learnings of children in the first few years have a significant impact on the rest of their lives and I am thrilled the council is able to provide first class facilities and services for their benefit.”
The centre is designed to be environmentally friendly, with rain water tanks, solar panels and LED lighting.
It also incorporates smart technology which automatically monitors temperature, opens windows to regulate airflow, switches off the air-conditioning or heating if doors are left open and turns off all lights when the last person leaves for the day.
Cr Morland said he expected the facility to become a “true family hub”.
“By co-locating kindergarten and maternal and child health services within the centre, families will find it easier to move between services as their children grow up,” Cr Morland said.
The centre is at 45 Haflinger Avenue, Clyde North.
