More kindergarten places will soon be available for Marong families, with Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP officially turning the sod on the growing suburb’s new kindergarten.

The $5.5 million project will deliver an integrated early learning centre with three kindergarten rooms, two allied health rooms, which could be used by maternal and child health and other health services, staff facilities, an outdoor play area, kitchen facilities and bathroom amenities.

“With the population set to rise in Marong over the coming years, investing in this important infrastructure now is crucial to the future of the area,” Ms Edwards said.

“This kinder will help to support the successful roll-out of our landmark Best Start, Best Life reforms, and will create a new and expanded kindergarten for Marong.”

The project will allow the centre to offer 178 kinder places to local three- and four-year-olds and is forecast to be operational at the start of 2026.

The $5.5 million project was announced in 2023 through a Building Blocks Capacity grant which contributes to kindergarten infrastructure and supports the roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten and the Best Start, Best Life reforms across Victoria over the next decade.

Since the launch in 2020, Building Blocks has provided more than $235 million to plan, build and improve early childhood services delivering kindergarten across the state.

Through our nation-leading $14 billion Best Start, Best Life reforms, the Labor Government is transforming early childhood education to help children thrive, save families money and support parents and carers to return to work or study if they choose.