Nationals Member for the South West Region, Colin Holt MLC has officially opened the new Collie Early Education Centre.
Mr Holt said that the new Royalties for Regions funded child care facility, which can cater for 72 children aged 0-5 years, will make Collie an even more attractive place to live, work and raise a family.
The new child care facility and Central Park development are key components of the Royalties for Regions Collie Supertown CBD revitalisation. The cost of the building, including landscaping and improvements to parking and access to the adjoining heritage Old Police Station and Collie Coal Miners Institute was $2.2 million, with Royalties for Regions funding combined with significant contributions from S32 and Lotterywest.
Mr Holt congratulated the Shire of Collie on the success of the CBD revitalisation project. The new centre is being operated by the Collie Early Education Inc, a not for profit organisation chaired by Chrystle Uren.
The new building was designed by Bunbury based MCG Architects and BGC builders. The building recently received two awards at the Master Builders Association Awards.
Collie Early Education Centre Fact File:
- Provision of appropriate early childcare education aims to support and enhance the liveability of families residing in Collie.
- Total project cost – $2.2 million (majority through Royalties for Regions).
- New purpose build facility offers children and families with modern and safe education centre.
- Accommodates up to 72 children from 0-5 years. This is an increase of 30 places from the previous centre in Forrest Street, Collie.
- Investment in early childhood development.
- Investment in the region’s future workforce and capacity to thrive economically as a society.
Collie Supertown Fact File:
- The Shire of Collie was allocated over $11 million as part of the SuperTowns Development Project Fund 2011-12 for the Collie CBD Revitalisation project.
- Of the (over) $11 million SuperTown funding, the Shire of Collie received $3.81 million towards the Central Park project.
- This funding was used to develop Central Park as well as relocate and expand the Collie Early Education Centre.
The remainder of Royalties for Regions funding supported the following:
- Steere Street Pedestrian Link
- Harvey Street Pedestrian Link
- Development of Laneways
- Four CBD Entry Points
- Youth Space including the Collie Skate Park
- Wallsend Structure Planning
- Collie Art Gallery
- Public Artwork
- Forrest Street Redevelopment
- Underground Power
- Soldier Park Improvements
- Some parts of the Collie River Revitalisation
