Kinder demand needs addressing

Trafalgar children are missing out on kindergarten places in the town, according to two local mums who attended the Trafalgar community briefing.
Maddison Griffin and Jennifer Schembri said they had managed to get their children in, but knew others who had missed out.
They urged Baw Baw Shire to act now and plan for future growth.
"I know people who have missed out," Maddison said, stating they instead received second preference placings in Thorpdale, Willow Grove and Yarragon.
However, she alleged people outside the shire were providing incorrect addresses to gain Trafalgar places, at the detriment to Baw Baw ratepayers.
"We just want the future numbers to be catered for," Jennifer said.
"And an action plan," Maddison said.
The duo said they chose to attend the briefing to represent Trafalgar families, knowing many would be unable to attend the 4pm to 6pm timeslot.
"We're the future of Traf, we're growing the future of Traf, and they need to be able to learn and we need the capacity to do that," Maddison said.
They said it was frustrating to see a graph during the briefing showing Trafalgar kindergarten places would reach capacity by 2028.
"We're already there, we're already at capacity," Maddison said.
The two mothers, who spoke to council officers regarding kindergarten places and playground upgrades, said they felt listened to. However, they questioned whether their feedback would be acted on.
"I hope they've got the best interests of people at heart," Maddison said. "Actions speak louder than words."
Although believing a permanent library should have been provided years ago, Jennifer said youth deserved facilities and needed to be prioritised as council planned for the future.
Baw Baw Shire staff outlined that an extension and upgrade to the old kindergarten building in Contingent St would be the fastest and most cost effective avenue to create more kindergarten places in Trafalgar.
However, the building is earmarked as the site of the town's much awaited permanent library.
As discussions developed after the briefing, library supporters questioned "where will the library go?"
Providing a kindergarten update, shire family and children's services manager Leonie Martens said "we don't have enough kinder places in Trafalgar to accommodate growth and State Government reforms".
Ms Martens said the current kinder offered 66 licenced places and the old kindergarten had previously offered 27 licenced places.
With hours expanding for three and four-year-old kindergarten programs, she believed reinstating the old kindergarten would increase capacity. Ms Martens said council was currently exploring options to have a kindergarten, library and child maternal health service all operating from the building.