The work to renovate one of Bathurst’s key child care facilities has gotten underway, with the end result expected to provide a major boost for child care services.
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The $1.5 million project will see the Scallywags Child Care Centre undergo a major facelift that will bring the facility up to speed with modern infrastructure and education standards.
As a major learning facility under Bathurst Regional Council’s ownership, acting mayor Bobby Bourke said the project has been long overdue.
“Child care services are very important to council, and having up to date learning facilities is a high priority of ours,” Cr Bourke said.
Bathurst Regional Council’s three child care facilities include Scallywags, Little Scallywags and the Bathurst Family Day Care Centre.
The new facility will bring all three child care centres together under the one roof.
“Bringing all the services together is going to enhance council’s approach to child care,” Cr Bourke said.
“Parents and staff will benefit from a more centralised location for child care services.”
In April 2018, the State Government committed a further $100,000 towards the redevelopment from their Stronger Country Community Fund.
“This is about looking after young children that go to our preschools and ensuring they have access to facilities that are up to standard,” State Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said.
The Scallywags redevelopment is expected to be complete by July.
“On behalf of council, we are thankful that the State Government has come on board to assist in getting this project underway,” Cr Bourke said.
The first stage of the project will see contractors demolish parts of the existing building to make way for extensions that will increase the size of the facility.
Other works include widening the entrance driveway, resurfacing the car park and refurbishing the existing interior.
The existing facility is more than 30 years old, and Scallywags’ acting coordinator Leanne McCurry said the redeveloped centre will help foster a reinvigorated environment for preschool students.
“We’ll be offering new facilities with the same family feel that we’ve always maintained,” Ms McCurry said.
“It has made sense to upgrade Scallywags as it will complement our new business plan moving forward.”
“Once the works are complete, we’ll be under the one roof creating a multifaceted educational hub for children aged zero to five.”
