Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes visited the Kindergarten for an update on its $265 000 upgrade.
Ride Ave kids learn woodwork
The project includes renovation of existing buildings to increase accessibility and increase kindergarten places.
Ms Symes, who attended Ride Ave as a child said the state government had provided money for the upgraded centre through a Children’s Facilities Capital Program grant.
“It’s fantastic to see a lot of action happening inside,” Ms Symes said.
“Local builders Shane De Fazio and Adam levy (are) hard at work on a massive upgrade here at Ride Ave.
“The Victorian Government has provided $198 000 for the school community here.
“The council provided funding as well, so it’s a more than $250 000 upgrade for Ride Ave kinder.
“I’m very excited about it, this is my former kindergarten, several years ago now, but it hadn’t changed very much since I was here.
“So to have a great upgrade that will make it fit for purpose for three-year-old and four-year-old kinder, it’s going to be a great outcome for the Benalla Community.”
Construction is expected to finish in December 2019 and will provide local families with young children access to additional kinder places.
New challenge for beloved educator
The state’s biggest early education build will continue in the coming years, with almost 1000 new and upgraded kinders to come.
Ms Symes said the state government would invest more than $1.6 billion during the next decade to build about 785 new kinders and expand 170 existing services.
“Making Victoria the Education State starts with the early years – that’s why we’re delivering unprecedented investments in early childhood services,” Ms Symes said.
The Ride Ave upgrade is part of a $5 billion plan to ensure every Victorian child has access to at least five hours of subsidised three-year-old kinder by 2022, progressively scaled up to 15 hours per week in the next decade.
This will be the largest social, economic and educational reform ever undertaken in early childhood learning in Victoria’s history.