A group working to attract more families to Heathcote has welcomed the findings of a study which found there was a clear need for more childcare options in the area.

The Childcare for Heathcote Working Group is a collection of local organisations and residents hoping to cater for younger families which are moving into the area.

They have just received the results of a study they commissioned to research demand for childcare in and around Heathcote.

They said it provided the evidence to back what many in Heathcote have been saying for years: there is a clear need for more childcare options in Heathcote.

The study, by the Community Childcare Association, found that despite a hospital, two primary schools, shopping and recreational facilities, some families do not stay because the area lacks long day care and outside school hours care.

The study uncovered demand for a long day care service for about 40 children, as well as after school care for a further 20 students.

Working group spokeswoman Ainslie Sefton said many people in the region relied on family and friends for childcare support.

“That’s something that is really positive about the community – that it is full of people who come together to support each other,” she said.

“But not everyone has access to family members to do this sort of stuff.”

Ms Sefton said parents, schools and the local preschool wanted more support for local children with special needs, especially those requiring the help of speech pathologists and cognitive behavioral specialists.

“People are travelling to Bendigo to access specialist services. Many respondents said it would be good if there was a speech pathologist here in Heathcote,” she said.

She said local employers were also keen to attract and retain workers in the area at a time when many people were moving there to retire.

Major employer Mandalay Resources funded the study. They are one of a number of organisations with representatives on the working group, which also includes Heathcote Health, Heathcote Community House, Loddon Mallee Preschool Association and the Heathcote Community Bank.

Ms Sefton said working group members were now digesting the study’s findings and would meet again in August to work out what the next step would be.

“Certainly we are aware of the need to implement some things quickly,” she said.