The community needs to raise $100,000 to complete the centre, which will be on the Nhill P-12 College site.

The Federal Government and Hindmarsh Shire Council will finance the balance of the project.

The centre will provide 55 kindergarten places, long-day care, maternal and child health, early intervention services, playgroups and a toy library.

Hindmarsh chief executive Tony Doyle said the centre would provide a vital improvement to childcare and early years education in the shire.

“We operate from two separate facilities at the moment and both are antiquated and past their used-by dates,” he said. 

“Our existing kindergarten is almost at capacity and we are concerned in the next couple of years there will be children missing out if we don’t upgrade.

“It’s really important we build a new facility to meet the needs of our growing community and introduce three-year-old kindergarten for the first time.”

Mr Doyle said council would co-ordinate the community fundraising effort.

“We’ll put a committee together of community members,” he said. 

“We’ve already had a really good number of people saying they would like to get involved, but it will take a while to raise $100,000 – it’s at least a 12-month effort.” 

He said some details regarding the Federal Government’s contribution were still to be finalised, but council aimed to start construction half-way through next year.

Outgoing Mayor Rob Gersch said it was one of council’s biggest achievements in the past year.

As the State Election draws closer, Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has been out in force over the past two days also announcing $100,000 for pools in Kaniva, Goroke and Harrow.

Mr Delahunty announced $30,000 for planning in West Wimmera, $25,412 for the Halls Gap Neighbourhood House for an additional 10 hours of programs and $15,000 for Harrow’s Johnny Mullagh Cricket Centre.

Labor candidate for Lowan Bob Scates said the timing of the announcements was no surprise. 

“You get the impression that there’s an election coming up because there’s been very little spending for about three-and-a-half years and all of sudden you tend to see announcements,” he said.

“Any money invested in childcare is a great investment, but there’s just a tiny bit of cynicism from me.”

Independent candidate Katrina Rainsford said Mr Delahunty was responding to the needs of the community

“I will commit to support funding all of those projects because they represent what the communities have been lobbying the local member for,” she said.

“But you don’t have to vote Nationals to get these projects funded – I will do everything Delahunty has promised, plus more. 

“I will tackle the difficult issues of unsafe roads, the lack of passenger rail, unaffordable rates and the lack of plan and vision for population growth.”