PERTH is only one month away from the sounds of young children at play in the new $1.4 million Early Learning Centre conjoining the Perth Primary School in Fore Street.
Northern Midlands Mayor Mary Knowles and general manager Des Jenning inspected the beautiful new facility, built by Rosier Construction, in its final stages of preparation on Tuesday with hundreds of boxes of furniture and equipment in the throes of being unpacked, the finishing touches going on landscaping and outdoor play areas and the last of the technology being installed.
Project manager Trent Atkinson walked them through a light-filled foyer and reception centre, multiple office, meeting room and tearoom facilities plus the three key areas that will cater for the sleep, play and education needs of children from nine weeks of age to the completion of primary school.
The nine week to 18 month zone, in muted, earthy tones with huge pin boards that will make the children’s art the pop of colour, features a separate cot room, arts and crafts area, mini library and plush mats.
In the 18-month-3 year zone there’s bag storage cubicles, tiny tables and chairs, dress up cub- by spaces and toys galore.
From ages 5-12 the children are in a more sophisticated space with the emphasis on education puzzles and games, art, building and sensory exploration.
All the zones have access to their own playground via huge sliding doors that can make the indoors and outdoor seamless.
Balancing blocks, bike track, raised performance platform/ cubby, sandpit and kid-friendly native shrubbery is combined with both artificial turf and nat- ural grass giving enough space for ball games.
A laundry, commercial kitchen and storage rooms are other features of the building which Mr Atkinson said has been designed for today and expansion in the future.
“It’s been orientated to keep noise away from nearby houses, for easy access to the primary school, there’s enough room for up to 86 children, 46 in early learning and 40 in after-school care, and it caters for around 16 staff,” he explained.
“Currently the community centre can only cater for 20 children in childcare and after school care and they will be the first through the door in early June.”
Mayor Knowles said that funding for the centre was secured during the 2019 federal election and the first sod turned
on the project late last year. “During the past 10 years Perth has grown by 35 per cent and that’s predicted to continue in the next few decades, doubling its size from around 3000 to 6000,” she said.
“When the highway bypasswas built that opened up the way for between 800-1000 new blocks of land to be developed and part of that is catering for a growing number of families.
“Perth is extremely popular and it’s attracting more families all the time, being only five minutes from Launceston, Longford and the TransLink Precinct where so many people work.”
For one person in particular, centre director Kate Lee, the four-year wait is nearly over and she is excitedly looking forward to a new chapter in early learning for local children.
“We’re busily recruiting new staff I’m conducting interviews today in fact and it’s hard to believe what an amazing job everyone has done,” she said.
“The children who come here will be very lucky indeed.”