Corangamite Mayor Matt Makin said the proposal had been raised previously in 2007 and was still being explored by the council.

"We are exploring the feasibility of building a purpose-built child-care centre next to the town's kindergarten to provide this important community service in Timboon," Cr Makin said.

The shire has circulated a Timboon Child Care Survey around the district seeking feedback on the proposal.

The survey can also be downloaded from the shire's website.

Port Campbell mother Sharon Cotton said there was an urgent need for more child care in the area.

She said she had to care for her four-year-old daughter in her Port Campbell business for some days each week because of the shortage of child care in the area.

The only child care in Port Campbell was five hours on Thursdays when the Corangamite mobile child care service operated out of the Port Campbell recreation reserve hall, she said.

Her daughter went to kindergarten for two days a week but on other days, Ms Cotton relied on her mother or partner for child care.

She said she knew of many young families in the Port Campbell area where the mother was not able to work because of the lack of child care in the area.

"A lot of families do not have families or friends who can help out," Ms Cotton said.

Cr Makin said the feedback from the survey would be central to how the council assessed the need for a child care facility and the level of community support it would have.

"The council is currently planning for next year's budget and feedback from local parents on this issue is critical,'' Cr Makin said this week

The council's community services manager Helen Durant said the centre would be specially designed for children aged 0-6, licensed by the Victorian Government and comply with the strict requirements of the Children Services Regulations.

"Typically these types of community facilities have well-equipped outdoor play areas and two or three activity rooms for babies, toddlers and preschoolers,'' she said.

"If the need cannot be substantiated, then this project will fail to the detriment of the community."

"Children at the centre would be cared for by staff with tertiary qualifications in child care," she said.

Ms Durant said a child care centre had the potential to provide social and economic benefits to the people of Timboon and district.