Politics & Council
24 February, 2026
Feds promised $5m, now state grabs cash for child centre already built
THE State Government has taken a $5 million pledge of federal funding for a child care centre in the Loddon Shire to pay for the new Wedderburn centre already built and opened.
After three days of State Government stonewalling on its new early learning partnership announcement last Friday that listed Wedderburn as one of the centres to open in 2026, the Federal Government exclusively told the Loddon Herald on Monday that the 2025 election-eve promise had been delivered.
The State Government today confirmed the money had been used for the Wedderburn centre built after a strong community campaigned pushed major political parties to commit to a centre in the 2022 election campaign.
But the latest development has angered communities in Boort and the southern Loddon Shire who had seen hope the federal promise would also help end their spot in childcare deserts.
The State Government move has been labelled a con and “unsophisticated unconscionable deception” by community leaders pushing for childcare in the shire.
Loddon councillors are expected to discuss a response to the State Government's actions at their monthly meeting this afternoon.
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