One of the state government’s landmark reforms, the rollout of free kinder, continues to be welcomed by councils across the state, but one question remains unanswered of who will pay for the infrastructure needed to facilitate the transformation.
In May, all cities and shires gathered at the State Council of the Municipal Association of Victoria, where they agreed on many key resolutions including the call for more investment in infrastructure for early learning.
The matter is in response to the state government’s Best Start Best Life reforms which are implementing free kinder for 3 and 4-year-olds across Victoria.
The resolution, moved by Kingston, Bayside and Casey cities, called for the state government to consult with councils about the decade-long rollout and provide “adequate funding” for councils to deliver the plan.
Cardinia Shire backed the resolution and has expressed similar calls in the past. As an outer Melbourne council, the shire is called home by many young families.
One-third of Melbourne’s young children live in the outer suburbs. By 2036, 40 percent of 0 to 4-year-olds are expected to grow up in growth areas.
However, Cardinia’s existing kinders are old and a significant expansion is need.
“While Council plays a vital role in local planning and advocacy, it does not have the financial capacity to meet the ongoing infrastructure costs required to support the future demand for kindergarten services for our rapidly growing region,” Cardinia Mayor Kowarzik said.
“The current data suggests we will experience a projected shortfall in kindergarten places across the municipality through to 2036. We advocate to the State for timely funding and strategic support that enables the delivery of critical early years infrastructure where and when it is needed most and are committed to working collaboratively with the Department of Education and local providers to explore potential solutions.”
Recent forecasting data provided by the Department of Education to the council suggests that up to 20 additional kindergarten rooms are needed in Cardinia to avoid a projected shortfall in kinder places by 2036.
This is despite the fact that the state government has already contributed $27 million for more than 1,300 new kinder places over the last several years.
Five new services have been constructed with two more on the way, two new early learning centres are running and five more are coming in the future.
Local parents are subsidised a yearly $2,627 rate for every 15-hour enrollment, which contributes to overall revenue for providers across the sector.
“We’re providing more support than ever for local governments to deliver high quality kindergarten services to their local communities – and Cardinia Shire Council is no exception,” a state government spokesperson said.
“Funding for council-run kinders in Victoria has increased significantly since 2022 – with Free Kinder delivering an average 30% to 40% increase in funding per child compared to average parent fees that were previously charged, on top of existing funding streams.”
A 2024 council report revealed that existing kinders were still mostly aging overall and that the funding arrangement for many of the new facilities was still a burden on Cardinia.
Of the 27 kinders the council owns as of April last year, 16 of them were 35 to almost 40 years old.
Of these, 14 have never received redevelopment and remain in their original condition.
An estimate at the time of the report said replacing the 27 facilities would cost upward of $50 million.
An immediate renewal and upgrade program for these sites would leave the council out of pocket by $5.6 million.
The state government has agreements with councils called the Kindergarten Infrastructure and Services Plan (KISP).
The council has requested a review from the education department as Cardinia’s is now several year old.
Currently, there are three new facilities planned across the shire, including two in Pakenham East and one in Lang Lang.
Two new early learning centres opened recently in Officer, Boollam Boollam and Toun-nun Child and Family Centre. These new facilities, including the two planned for Pakenham East, are funded by the state government and council through the Building Blocks Partnership Agreement as well as developer contributions, which are required under existing planning.
The 2024 report says the developer contributions were expected to fall short for these four facilities by an estimated $30.4 million out of a $52.9 million overall cost.
The building block partnership is also funding the new Lang Lang kindergarten and Maternal and Child Health facility, providing 118 kinder places located on Oxford Street.
