THE future of local kindergartens will be reviewed by Loddon Shire with the opening of Wedderburn’s early learning centre next year and closure of council’s 50-year-old pre-school in the town.
Council chief executive officer Lincoln Fitzgerald said the shire saw changes “as the opportunity to review kindergarten early years management to ensure we are delivering the service in the most efficient and effective way”.
Asked whether council would ease out of  its kindergarten management role over the next five years, Mr Fitzgerald said: “Council has not been provided with any recommendation or discussed a variation from the current service provision with the exception of Wedderburn where council has resolved to close the kindergarten at the end of 2025.”
Kindergarten sessions in Wedderburn will be at Wedderburn Early Learning Centre while council will continue to run sessions at Boort, Inglewood, Pyramid Hill and Dingee. The review of kindergarten services in Loddon comes as Yarriambiack Shire moves out of the early childhood space.
The council will tranbsfer Minyip, Rupanyup and Warracknabeal kindergarten services to Emerge Early Years Services. Kindergartens in Beulah and Hopetoun are already operated by Emerge while the shire’s Murtoa kindergarten has been replaced by a State Government early learning centre.
Shire chief executive Tammy Smith said council had partnered with Emerge to oversee early years operations since October last year. 
“This has resulted in positive outcomes for staff and families,” she said. “Emerge efficiently managed Yarriambiack Shire Council enrolments for next year.
“The aim will be for all centres to be transitioned by the end of this year,” Mrs Smith said as council made the exit call at its meeting last month.