Murray River Council was awarded the funding under the Building Better Regions Fund, which means plans for the construction of the $5.9 million preschool can now progress.
“It’s been an ongoing project between council and the preschool for a bit over two years so we’re absolutely thrilled we can finally start working towards building a new preschool for our community,” Moama and District Preschool committee president Alison Wright said.
“The next step is finalising the plans and starting construction; we’ve got all of our funding arms completed which is amazing news.
“It’s great for early education for our community and being able to offer that three-year-old funded preschool program, which we currently just don’t have capacity or scope to offer now.”
The new preschool project has been gaining momentum over the last few years with the current preschool, located at Regent St, Moama, operating at capacity and with an expanding waiting list.
The new preschool will be within the Moama Recreation Reserve, on Boyes St, with the capacity to double the number of places offered.
The project had previously secured $1.5 million from the NSW Government.
“Together with the state funding and our existing contribution of $1.5 million, this additional funding means we’re now able to deliver a new preschool to the Moama community,” Murray River Shire mayor Chris Bilkey said.
“The Federal Government has been a great supporter of many of our community-driven initiatives, so it’s welcome news that they have again got on board a project like this that that will benefit our littlest learners.
“The new preschool will be an incredible asset to the town and will add to the consolidation of the area as an education precinct that will service the growing residential development in Moama.
“It’s been great to work alongside the preschool committee to keep this project ticking and we (are) now looking forward to working with them further as we get this exciting new facility built.”
Two projects in Moama have received funding under this round of the Building Better Regions Fund, with Rich River Golf Club also allocated $783,000.
“Moama really has been one of the communities along the Murray hardest hit by COVID restrictions since early last year, and I really want this new funding to be the kick-start we need for a better, brighter 2022,” Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said.
More local news
Vaccination the way to save summer: Mayor Bilkey
Echuca postcode leads the way in Campaspe for COVID-19 vaccinations
Echuca-Moama set to reconnect through ‘Rocktober'
17°C