FRANKSTON Council assessed at least ten different sites before deciding that Long Street Reserve should house a new kindergarten.
In October last year, all nine Frankston councillors voted to nominate Long Street Reserve in Langwarrin as their preferred site for a new kindergarten. The vote was taken behind closed doors, and once the plans were publicly revealed the Langwarrin community began to protest.
A petition with 1751 signatures has been handed to council opposing the plans.
At their public council meeting this Monday*, Frankston councillors will consider releasing more confidential information related to the kinder plans. Council has now revealed that it investigated eight different sites for the new kinder between 2018 and 2019.
In 2019 council endorsed Lloyd Park North (Pindara Boulevard) as its preferred site for the new kinder. By the end of that year, council decided to abandon those plans in response to a petition.
The other seven sites considered by council between 2018 and 2019 were the telecom tower site at Lloyd Park, the north-west corner of Lloyd Park Reserve, the Melbourne Water site at McClelland Drive, the studio park at McClelland Gallery, the quarry site north of McClelland Gallery, the men’s shed at Lloyd Park South, and Langwarrin Gateway.
In 2020, council discussed purchasing land from McClelland Gallery to build the new centre on. In 2022, the establishment of free kinder for three and four-year-olds and the looming potential of escalating costs saw council consider other options.
Cruden Farm was also assessed as an option for the kinder. In October last year, council finally resolved to make Long Street Reserve the preferred site for the centre.
The new Langwarrin Child and Family Centre will house the existing Langwarrin Pre-School.
Deputy mayor Liam Hughes has told members of the Save Long Street Reserve Facebook group that he intends to move an alternate motion this week to “cease further exploration, including engagement, of the Long Street Reserve as the site for the new Langwarrin Child and Family Centre”.
Two options are currently being considered for the kinder plans at Long Street Reserve. Community consultation has been extended until 26 March. To view the plans and make a submission visit engage.frankston.vic.gov.au/early-years-infrastructure/new-kindergarten-langwarrin
*The vote to release more confidential information about the project will take place shortly after publication deadline.
