May 20, 2022
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Arts centre tops out The Geelong Arts Centre redevelopment project has reached a key milestone this week. On Wednesday, builders placed the last beam on the $140 million facility’s four-storey structure, officially “topping out” the build. Work by contractor Lendlease will continue, with the project on track to be completed by late 2023. The project will create more than 600 jobs during construction, while the expanded, state-of-the-art centre is expected to create up to 300 ongoing jobs in the region, taking in the arts and tourism sectors. The Little Malop Street redevelopment is the largest stage of Geelong Arts Centre’s transformation, following the refurbishment of the Playhouse Theatre in 2010 and the $38.5 million Ryrie Street redevelopment, completed in 2019. The current project will see two new theatres, outdoor atrium and dining facilities built, and new back-of-house and administration facilities. Ash Bolt Wednesday’s topping out ceremony for the Geelong Arts Centre redevelopment.
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Support for new parents By Ash Bolt New parents will soon have more access to early parenting support in a state-of-the-art facility, with major work under way on Geelong’s new Early Parenting Centre. Health Minister Martin Foley this week announced the multi-million-dollar facility would be located at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre. The centre is part of the state government’s $123 million investment to deliver nine state-of-the-art early parenting centres in major growth areas across the state. Mr Foley said Geelong’s new centre would provide parents and carers with the advice and care they needed, including support with sleep
and settling, feeding and extra care for babies and toddlers with additional needs. Sleep and settling is one of the biggest challenges facing new parents, with around one in two Victorian parents who are attending early parenting centres reporting problems with their child’s sleep, the government said. Sleeping problems have been found to lead to postnatal depression, isolation and stress for parents and impact a child’s behavioural and physical development. Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said the centre would provide a long-lasting benefit to Geelong families. “This much-needed centre will provide support for hundreds of families in Geelong
and the Barwon South West region, reducing the need to travel to Melbourne,” she said. “We know the first four years can be particularly challenging for families; this centre will provide a holistic approach to common concerns in the early years.” With 10 residential units and four day stay units, the centre will provide both day stays and long residential stay programs to improve the health, wellbeing and developmental outcomes for children aged up to four-years-old. Early works have begun on site to deliver new car spaces and prepare the site for major construction works. The centre will be operated by Barwon Health in partnership with Tweddle Child and
Family Health Service. Ms Diver said Barwon Health had committed to partnering with the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative and other groups to ensure the centre provided a culturally responsive service. The construction project will be delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority. Construction work will start in the coming months with the centre expected to be completed and operational in 2024. “Facilities like this are great for new mums and dads, they give you the certainty that when things go wrong or you wonder if you’re doing something right, you won’t have to leave Geelong to get the support or answers you need,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said.
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