The City of Port Phillip and the Victorian Government announced on 14 October 2022 an agreement to fund upgrades to six of Port Phillips early years education and care centres.

Port Phillip Council will provide more than $18 million and the Victorian Government is contributing up to $12.6 million under this agreement.

This welcome news for parents and childcare operators who lobbied to stop the sale of the centres. Funding was secured following Port Phillip Council’s decision in August to not sell three ageing community-run early years education and care centres (Eildon Road Childcare and Kindergarten, St Kilda, The Avenue Children’s Centre and Kindergarten, Balaclava, and the Elwood Children’s Centre), subject to this funding agreement.

Over the next seven years, this partnership with the State Government will ensure all six Port Phillip centres requiring significant renovation or replacement will be made fit-for-purpose and accessible for generations to come, whilst staying at the same locations. 

The six centres are 

• Eildon Road Childcare and Kindergarten, St Kilda

• The Avenue Children’s Centre and Kindergarten, Balaclava

• Elwood Children’s Centre, Elwood.

• North St Kilda Children’s Centre, St Kilda

• Clarendon Children’s Centre, South Melbourne

• Lilian Cannam Kindergarten, South Melbourne.

Port Phillip Council was slammed by parents, state, and federal politicians over its plan to sell the centres because of funding challenges to upgrade the 100 years old centres which do not comply with building codes and the Disability Discrimination Act. 

Mayor Marcus Pearl said, “we are pleased this announcement provides certainty to both the operators and the families and caregivers using or planning to use these community resources is our council will continue to work closely with the centres including consulting on design and providing support to minimise disruption to operations when consultation is underway”.