Libs’ Bellbrae promise

Funding will pay for new classrooms, town water

BELLBRAE Primary School has received an $8 million State Opposition election pledge to fund major upgrades at the rapidly growing school.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy visited the Surf Coast school yesterday to announce his Government, if elected in November, would fund new permanent classrooms, a gym, a synthetic oval and the school connected to safe drinking mains water.

“A government I lead will give Bellbrae the classrooms and facilities they so desperately need and rightly deserve,” Mr Guy said.

“If the Liberal Nationals are elected in November, we will ensure Bellbrae has the funding to be connected to potable mains water so children no longer risk drinking dirty or contaminated tank water.”

South Barwon MP Andrew Katos welcomed the “desperately needed” funding pledge.

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino hit out at the Liberal Party following their funding pledge.

“You can’t trust the Liberals on schools — when they were given the chance they cut education funding right across the state,” Mr Merlino said.

“The Liberal Party failed to fund any upgrade at Bellbrae Primary School when they were given the chance.

“We’ve already invested $1.05 million to upgrade Bellbrae Primary School, and will continue to work with the school on their future needs.”

He did not say whether his Government would commit to matching the funding pledge.

The Liberal Party funding promise came days after frustrated parents complained the school was “bursting at the seams” after jumping from 279 pupils in 2010 to more than 500 this year.

The State Government set aside $754,000 for school upgrades in its May Budget, but parents said much more was needed.

Earlier this month school council vice-president Jacquelle Gorski told the Geelong Advertiser the money allocated in the State Budget would only fix “urgent” issues, such as the school’s leaking roof, and would not allow for extra buildings.

“The toilet facilities are in dire need. The money (allocated) will be used to remove asbestos from relocatable and portable buildings,” Ms Gorski said.

“It will cover changes of locks.”

Parents also voiced a wish for the school to be moved from tank water to town water.

Earlier this month state Mr Merlino said the Government would continue to invest in Bellbrae Primary School.

“After four years of cuts and under-investment by the former Liberal Government, we know many local schools, including Bellbrae Primary School, are seeking additional support,” he said.

“We’ve already invested more than $1 million in recent years at Bellbrae Primary School, including $754,000 to modernise the school’s art room and other classroom buildings, and we will continue to work with the school to address their future needs.”

Enrolment pressure at Bellbrae PS was expected to be eased following the opening of Torquay Coast Primary School earlier this year.