Two community centres opened in the north last week, representing joint investments by Hume and Whittlesea councils in partnership with the state government.
Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Wendy Lovell opened a new $5.9 million family and community centre at Epping on Wednesday morning.
She later headed to Broadmeadows to open a $4.6 million community hub on the site of the former Dallas Neighbourhood House.
Epping Views Family and Community Centre offers maternal and child health and community meeting areas for allied health.
There will also be a 33-place kindergarten next year for three and four-year-olds.
The centre is close to Epping Road shops and housing estates, including Lyndarum and Hayston.
Whittlesea mayor Rex Griffin said many families would be able to access it on foot or by bike.
He said the centre’s link to nearby Epping Views Primary School would benefit the region’s early childhood education.
“It will ensure a smooth transition between kinder and primary school,” he said.
Whittlesea council contributed $3.8 million towards the project, and the state government provided $2.1 million.
The government contributed $800,000 to the new Broadmeadows Community Hub, to go with $3.8 million from Hume council.
The hub, on the corner of Widford and Freda streets, brings a number of community and council agencies under the one roof, rehousing the Dallas Neighbourhood House, along with the Broadmeadows Residents Advisory Team, the Spanish-speaking Senior Citizens Club and the Broadmeadows Combined Pensioners Association.
It is also a shopfront for child and family services and a customer reception centre for the council.
