Integrated Family and Children Centres
Liardet Street Family and Children's Centre
A new family and children's centre in Port Melbourne
Council will begin construction on a new, state of the art family and children's centre in Port Melbourne. The new centre will provide maternal and child health services and spaces for playgroup, new parent groups and other community uses. Up to 135 licensed children's services places will be accommodated on site.
Location
The site is on public land at the corner of Esplanade West and Liardet St, Port Melbourne. Two blocks of land is home to Lady Forster Kindergarten, while another block is currently occupied by vacant council buildings. Council will combine all three blocks for this centre.
LFK temporary relocation
As part of the development of the new centre the existing Lady Forster Kindergarten building is being demolished. Council will assist LFK to relocate to their purpose-renovated beach-side facility at Elwood Beach at the start of January.
The Elwood Beach Community Centre was selected in consultation with LFK and following a thorough investigation of more than 25 potential sites.
Council is committed to providing a safe and stimulating space for the kinder’s children while the building works are carried out in Port Melbourne. The Elwood location will deliver this better than any other option. Council has been working closely with LFK to minimise disruption for families, children and staff.
Council has a long-held agreement with LFK that every assistance will be provided with packing up and relocating the kinder's furniture and equipment to the new centre.
Council has spent significant funds on upgrading Elwood Beach Community Centre to meet the specific needs of LFK. Council has effectively provided a newly renovated beach-side kindergarten.
Heritage nomination delayed project
This project was delayed due to single objector who nominated the Lady Forster Kindergarten (LFK) building for inclusion on the State Heritage Register. The Heritage Council of Victoria had previously determined the building did not satisfy the necessary requirements to be added to the register in August 2009.
The Heritage Council has now confirmed for the second time that LFK fails to meet any of the criteria to be considered a place of state significance and therefore will not be placed on the State Heritage Register. This affirms Council's long held view. It removes the final obstacle to Council's plans to construct the Liardet St Family and Children's Centre on that site.
Read Heritage Council’s findings
Council will not include LFK in a local heritage overlay. However, the Liardet Street location will continue to be a place of significance for the local community. Funded kindergarten programs will continue to operate from the site and it will remain a social gathering place for local families and children. This continues a tradition that dates back to the 1920s.
Services
The new centre will accommodate Lady Forster Kindergarten and the Albert Park College Childcare Centre (APCCC), which is currently operating out of temporary buildings at Port Melbourne Primary School. Both Lady Forster Kindergarten and Albert Park College Childcare will remain separate, community managed services.
Funding
Three levels of government have committed funding for this proposal made up of: Federal ($1.6M), and State ($1.2M). Council’s contribution will be confirmed pending the construction tender.
Design
The design of the centre has been informed by a Steering Committee consisting of representatives from council, APCCC, LFK, playgroups, Childcare Access Port Phillip, State government and community members. All members of the steering committee have provided valuable input and have voted in favour of the current design concept.
Elements of the design supporting an integrated centre include:
- Single entry and foyer
- Single reception/admin areas
- Shared staff planning facilities
- Flexible room structures allowing playgroup rooms to be used for community groups
The design aims to achieve good environmental outcomes through:
- Water harvesting and recycling
- Solar hot water
- Split system air conditioning
- Sweep fans and cross ventilation
- Double glazing on windows
- Durable materials with environmental credentials
- Energy efficient appliances
The building has been designed to optimise the outdoor play area. Both APCCC and LFK will have access to large playgrounds, with more than double the amount of outdoor space per child required under government regulation. Retaining a natural environment is the preferred landscaping.
Next steps
Works to construct the new facility will start in January 2012 following LFK's relocation to Elwood Beach Community Centre.
More information
View Tree Factsheet or the Preliminary Tree Assessment Report
View Carparking and Traffic Factsheet or the Traffic Impact Assessment
View Council Report for 22 February 2010
Information sent to residents April 2010
Contact Andrea Tonkin, Coordinator Capital Project Services on 9209 6695 or email atonkin@portphillip.vic.gov.au or visit our website.
Frequently asked questions
1) What is the history of the project?
Council established a Steering Committee to provide advice on design for this project in July 2008.
At its Ordinary Meeting of 27 April 2009, Council resolved to assume control of two parcels of public land on the corner of Esplanade West and Liardet St, Port Melbourne, on which Lady Forster Kindergarten is located, to enable the centre to be developed. The State Government granted Council Committee of Management status over the land in May 2009.
Following resolution of the land status, the Steering Committee has made significant progress since July 2009 on the design, which is reflected in the concept.
For more information see the Council Report for 22 February 2010.
2) Who is on the steering committee?
The Committee includes representatives from Albert Park College Childcare, Lady Forster Kindergarten, Port Melbourne Rostered Playgroup, Childcare Access Port Phillip and community members as well as the State government. Council welcomes and values the input from these community groups.
All members of the steering committee have provided valuable input and have voted in favour of the current design concept.
3) Carparking in the area is already limited, will the new centre add to this problem?
Seventeen additional car parking spaces will be created within the immediate vicinity. These will be available for local residents and visitors. For more information view the Carparking and Traffic Factsheet or the Traffic Impact Assessment.
4) How will traffic in the area be impacted by the new centre?
An independent traffic impact assessment has been conducted and has found that increased traffic generated by the new centre can be accommodated in a safe and efficient manner without creating safety or capacity issues. For more information view the Carparking and Traffic Factsheet or the Traffic Impact Assessment.
5) Will trees be removed to accommodate the new centre?
Yes, some trees will be removed and not replaced as a result of the development.
Landscaping will be an important part of this project. Tree retention is council’s preferred outcome, however some trees will need to be removed to accommodate the new building footprint.
An independent arborist has conducted a preliminary assessment of the site, which proposes the retention of some trees and the removal of others. There are some trees that are dead or in poor condition due to sustained drought and should be removed. Another four have been deemed unsuitable for a children’s centre due to the risk of branch dropping and allergies.
A detailed landscaping plan will be developed in conjunction with the users of the centre and use of natural materials and replacement of trees will feature in this plan.
For more information about trees that will be retained and removed view the Tree Factsheet or the Preliminary Tree Assessment Report.
6) How will the services in the centre be run?
The new centre will accommodate Lady Forster Kindergarten and the Albert Park College Childcare Centre (APCCC), which is currently operating out of temporary buildings at Port Melbourne Primary School.
Both Lady Forster Kindergarten and Albert Park College Childcare will remain separate, community managed services.
As members of the steering committee LFK and APCCC have provided valuable in put into the design, and will continue to provide in put to ensure the centre meets future their needs.
7) Who is funding the new centre?
Three levels of government have committed funding for this proposal made up of: Federal ($1.6M), State ($1.2M), Council ($2.74M). The funding aims to deliver an integrated early years learning and care centre, as research shows integration of services provides positive outcomes for communities, particularly disadvantaged and vulnerable families.
8) How will council make the decision to build the new centre?
The planning application will be sent to council’s Statutory Planning Committee for review. The committee meets monthly and comprises all Port Phillip councillors. At this meeting all interested parties have a brief opportunity to address the council before a decision is made.
If council supports the application and objections have been received, a ‘Notice of Decision’ will be issued. This is not a planning permit but indicates all the conditions which would form part of the planning permit if issued. If council does not support the application, a Notice of Refusal will be issued which includes the reasons for the refusal. Regardless of the decision, both the applicant and objectors may lodge an Application for Review with VCAT.
For more information about the permit application view the Town Planning Process.
