A government-owned early learning and childcare centre with 130 places will be built at the Wilmot Rd site and is expected to open early next year.
The Victorian Government’s Victorian Schools Building Authority will also soon start construction of a new kindergarten on the grounds of Kialla West Primary School, which will cater to around 70 students.
It is also set to open in 2026.
While both the new early learning centres will cater for three- and four-year-old kindergarten, the Wilmot Rd centre will also include specialist services, such as maternal and child health, for south Shepparton families.
The co-location of the new centres with the Wilmot Rd and Kialla West primary schools is designed to help the region’s youngest students transition seamlessly into primary school.
Kialla West Primary School principal Wes Teague said the pending development was exciting news for his school community.
“We’re in a growth area and this will help incoming kindergarten children socialise and be ready for primary school,” Mr Teague said.
“It will also be easier for some of our larger families, who will have a single drop-off and pick-up for their pre-school and primary-aged children.”
The new builds follow major investment of $140.5 million in the Shepparton Education Plan and its capital works projects, including Mooroopna Family and Children’s Centre at Mooroopna Primary School and Greater Shepparton Secondary College, which opened in 2022.
This year also saw the opening of the first stage of Banmira Specialist School — a $24.8 million investment in children with special needs.
The junior campus of Banmira (formerly Verney Rd School) opened on the site of the former Wanganui Park Secondary College, incorporating the ‘old’ foundations, courtyard and some brickwork into the new, contemporary specialist school.
A new early learning centre is also planned for Numurkah in 2026.
The new Goulburn Valley centres are some of 14 centres the Victorian Government plans to open across the state next year, with builders appointed to all 14 projects last month.
These centres will all charge fees below local market rates and will be located on or near a local school.
“Our nation-leading Best Start, Best Life reforms are delivering a better life for our littlest Victorians, with new childcare centres close to home offering kinder as well — I encourage parents to enrol their kids for next year now,” Victorian Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn said.
“We heard where Victorians needed childcare the most, and that’s exactly where we’re delivering our 14 newest centres — with market-beating fees on top of up to $2600 in Free Kinder savings, per year, per child.”
Enrolment for kinder in 2026 is now open.
To learn more about Early Learning Victoria and to tour an existing centre, visit earlylearning.vic.gov.au/enrol
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