The smiles said it all at the official opening of the Arrowtown Early Learning Centre on Friday, the result of five years of research, lobbying, planning and applying for funding.
Construction of the building, on Ministry of Education land at Cotter Ave which backs on to Arrowtown School, began in July last year after a $720,000 grant from the ministry was approved in April 2009.
The centre had to contribute $40,000, $20,000 of which was raised by the Arrowtown Pre-School, with additional money secured as a loan.
At the opening, building committee member Carol Watts said the process began in 2005 when the ministry approached the Arrowtown Pre-School about the possibility of opening a second centre in the town.
Ms Watts said the idea had never been considered, but once "the seed was planted" there was no turning back.
A feasibility study of the-then levels of service and the community demand was commissioned, which showed a "desperate need" for more early childhood learning centres for children from birth to 2 years old.
A detailed application for funding was made but rejected in October 2008 as other areas with greater need were found.
The committee, primarily parents of young children volunteering their time to help, then spoke to Clutha-Southland MP Bill English "to let him know how important it was to get this centre for Arrowtown, to make sure our children weren't missing out", she said.
Over the past few years, the waiting list at Arrowtown Pre-School had progressively become longer, with a waiting time of about four years.
On Friday, the Otago Daily Times reported hundreds of preschool children in the Wakatipu were having to wait up to two years to reach the top of the bulging lists.
"The early learning centre has been fundamental in helping, with Arrowtown's waiting list now back under control," Ms Watts said.
"There is still a waiting list, but it's manageable.
"This was an important community project ... we are fortunate to live in an area that has such a strong community presence.
"This is a true community achievement."
Mr English, who was the guest of honour at the opening, said it was refreshing to see a community working.
"We spend a lot of time as politicians working with things that don't work in our country and our communities.
"Day after day we are dealing with the costs of failure ... it's just great to be reminded ... that actually, most families work.
"This is the kind of thing that perhaps [helps] families succeed - a community that ... sticks together so that no-one is on their own."
Mr English said he played a "small part" in helping turn the dream of the new centre into a reality.
"Bureaucrats want to help, it's just sometimes they take a while to get their heads around the huge demand.
"It's quite hard for people outside Queenstown and Arrowtown to understand it's not all about tourists here."
Arrowtown Early Learning Centre head teacher Jane Foster said there were already 42 children enrolled at the centre, with 30 children coming at a time.
Children aged between 2 and 4 had been given priority, but the centre could take up to four children under the age of 2, she said.
The centre also had employed five teachers, with a sixth required when under 2s were enrolled.
Ms Foster said before the new centre was opened, the waiting list at Arrowtown Pre-School was "up around 70".
"It's taken the pressure off the other centre. At the moment we've really evened out.
"The children are getting in at the other centre early on, but at the end of the day that will creep up again."
"The centre features a downstairs den, which can be divided to separate children into age groups if necessary, a gated outdoor play area and an upstairs area for administration and "non-contact" time for staff.
