MP pushes for children’s centre funds

PLANS are afoot for a children’s centre in the Lakeside area of Pakenham.
Cardinia Shire Council has proposed a centre, which includes two kindergartens, an occasional childcare unit, maternal and child health services and a general purpose area.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato recently raised the council’s plans in State Parliament.
She called on Minister for Community Services Sherryl Garbutt to consider funding for the centre.
Ms Lobato said the council was seeking capital funds and startup grants from the State Government, a request totalling $500,000.
“Lakeside currently has an abundance of children but unfortunately has no children’s facilities,” Ms Lobato told Parliament.
“Families must access services provided at other locations at Officer and Beaconsfield, which obviously places a huge strain on those existing services.”
Ms Lobato said she believed the council and developers were beginning to appreciate the importance of providing services and infrastructure at the early stages of housing development.
She said she wanted to ensure that residents in Lakeside were provided for in terms of vital children’s services.
“The proposed children’s centre will be based on the successful model of the Beaconsfield community complex, which is providing numerous beneficial functions for the rapidlygrowing population in the area,” she said. “I would like to stress the importance of this application and ask that the Minister consider it favourably.”
The children’s centre is a key element of Cardinia Shire’s capital works program for 200506.
Design and construction of the centre is expected to cost $1.15 million.