State Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand last week announced grants totalling $12.5 million for renovation and refurbishment works at 223 community based kindergartens.

Daylesford Community Childcare Centre was awarded $100,000, Trentham Kindergarten Association Inc will receive $99,500 and Hepburn Kindergarten was allocated $8980.

Ms McLean said the funding announcement was ``great news'' for Daylesford Community Childcare Centre.

``It's about making the playground safer and more interesting,'' she said.

``The focus will be on creating an outdoor play area for the kids that's natural.

``A lot of work has gone into this.

``We've engaged a landscape architect who is well known in the early years area and she has drawn up plans for us.''

Ms McLean said they planned to create different ``areas'' within the playground _ a space for active play and another for quieter outdoor activities.

She said the centre catered for 150 children per week.

``It'll make outdoor play more educational and fun. That's what childhood is supposed to be about,'' she said.