Premier Denis Napthine became a home-town hero yesterday when he announced a $304,000 spend in Port Fairy.

The money is to be spent on the expansion of the Port Fairy Community Services Centre.

The state government funding will merge with a $101,000 contribution from Moyne Shire Council, taking the total committed to $405,000.

Details of whether an expansion or a re-alignment of the building will happen to accommodate the extra spaces will be confirmed in coming weeks.

The funding is a win for the Port Fairy Childcare Action Group which formed in March and has been lobbying council for extra childcare places.

Action group member Lucy Marshall said the funding was welcome news. “This is great news for families. It not only reduces the waiting list for childcare but it gives parents who want to go back to work or study the opportunity to do so.”

Figures from the council in May showed the waiting list for childcare places at the centre was 62. 

The centre, which opened in 2011, includes both childcare and kindergarten sessions.

Dr Napthine said the funding would provide for growing demand on early learning services in the area.

“A larger space will allow the Port Fairy kindergarten and early learning centre to increase its enrolments from 74 to 104 places,” Dr Napthine said. “This will allow the facility to accommodate an extra 12 or more children at any one time.

Moyne Shire councillor Colin Ryan said the council would look at all options in the use of the funding to increase the facility’s capacity.