Through combined funding of $580,000 from Hepburn Shire Council and the Victorian Government, the kindergarten’s facilities will be upgraded to provide space for long day care places integrated with three and four-year-old kinder. 

The upgrades will address the growing demand for childcare in the town. 

Brenna Powney has been campaigning for better facilities in Trentham since she moved to the town with her four children in 2011. 

“I came from Melbourne where I was used to childcare being accessible. But it’s more difficult here,” she said. 

Ms Powney said the process had been long but it was “really fantastic” that Trentham would now have the capacity for long day childcare. 

“There is no long day care in town so people are having to get babysitters or ask for favours. When you don’t have family here, it’s tricky, so it’s great that they are going to build something.”

She said many parents needed long day care services so they could work.

“A lot of people commute to Melbourne. To get to Melbourne by 9.00am by train, you have to leave by 7.00am but currently childcare services don’t open that early.”

Jo Mason reiterated this. “A lot of people are driving to other towns like Creswick, Daylesford and Kyneton to access childcare services even if it is out of the way of their commute to work,” she said. 

Mayor Cr John Cottrell said the council had been focused on securing funding since it facilitated the Trentham Childcare Needs analysis in 2015, while Coliban Ward Councillor, Sebastian Klein, said the project was important for the future of Trentham’s families.

In announcing the $305,000 of state government funding, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said the investment was important for early childhood education. 

"These exciting upgrades will give Trentham’s littlest residents an even better kindergarten experience, while offering more places at Trentham kinder.”