For many years, local families have been calling for more childcare places on the Bellarine - and today we’ve taken an exciting step forward for the St Leonards community.

The Victorian Government has secured a portion of parish land for a new Early Learning and Childcare Centre, right behind the church and next to the St. Leonards Primary School.

This will help meet the strong demand for early childhood education and give local families the support they’ve been advocating for.

Any change to parish land is significant, and so I do want to acknowledge the local church community, who continue to play such an important role in our town.

This new centre will make a real difference for families, support parents returning to work, and create a nurturing space for young learners. I look forward to keeping everyone updated as we move into the next phrase.

In relation to some queries regarding the use of the car park, I want to reassure the church community that access to the car park will be maintained over the Christmas period. Longer-term arrangements will be considered in due course. I will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.