A dispute around funding for childcare services has come to light, with Loddon Shire accusing the Commonwealth of a “failure of governance”.
The beef was made public last Thursday, February 26th when the council released a statement regarding a $5 million election pledge.
In it, the Shire alleged money which it had requested to fill “service gaps” in the region was instead put towards an existing facility in Wedderburn.
The facility, known as Dupitjin is to be located and operate at a site near Wedderburn College on the corner of Chapel and Hospital St.
“This announcement has caught Council by surprise, with no prior consultation or warning,” the statement read.
“Council made representations on behalf of our community in Canberra last year as to the best use of this funding, but disappointingly this has clearly been ignored with this announcement.
“We are also disappointed in the process which has led to this announcement, which we believe is a failure of governance. Council has not been kept informed during this process until a decision was made.
“Our communities, who were looking forward to a result which would benefit local families, will be equally disappointed.”
In another statement released on the same day, Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster – who sits with the opposition – accused the government of misleading the Shire’s residents.
“Voters went into polling booths [in the 2025 election] hopeful their town would get funding, when all along Wedderburn was getting the money, and no more than what Labor had already promised them in 2023,” Dr Webster claimed.
When asked for comment on the matter, the federal Department of Education provided the following response to Gold Central Victoria:
“On 19 February 2026, the Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Dr Jess Walsh announced that the Australian Government, in partnership with the Victorian Government, will deliver capital investments for 11 ECEC [Early Childhood Education and Care] projects across Victoria.
“The Commonwealth commitment to this partnership is $63.2 million, which will support around 1,110 new ECEC places for Victorian children. This includes the delivery of the Government’s $5 million commitment made during the 2025 Federal election campaign, for a new ECEC service in Loddon, on or near a school site where possible.
“The Commonwealth has partnered with the Victorian Government on the service co-located at Wedderburn College. Partnering with Early Learning Victoria’s service in Wedderburn provided the most effective pathway to deliver on the Loddon election commitment on a school site.”
The Shire says it stands willing to help both Federal and State Governments ensure they can “ease the pressure” on families and future residents and prevent the region from becoming a “childcare desert”.
The Victorian government was contacted for comment.
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