Bellbrae school receives $9.1m funding pledge

BELLBRAE Primary School will receive $9.1 million from a re-elected Labor State Government for much-needed upgrades at the rapidly expanding school.

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino announced the funding pledge yesterday which will be used to upgrade the school oval and build a competition grade gym, open learning spaces and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) facilities.

The school is guaranteed at least $8 million for upgrades, after the State Opposition announced an $8 million election pledge last month — to provide new permanent classrooms, a new gym, a synthetic oval and see the school connected to potable mains water.

Mr Merlino said yesterday’s funding announcement would be on top of $1 million already delivered by the State Government to upgrade and modernise facilities at the school.

“We’re already upgrading classrooms and facilities at Bellbrae Primary School with design work under way, but there’s more to do and only Labor will deliver the new sporting and STEM facilities students deserve,” he said.

South Barwon state Liberal MP Andrew Katos welcomed the funding, but voiced his disappointment a commitment hadn’t been made earlier.

He also raised concerns the State Government hadn’t committed to fixing the water supply issue at the school.

“It’s taken a commitment from the Liberal Party to actually drag Labor to the school and do something,” Mr Katos said.

“They don’t mention any- thing about water supply, so that’s a bit concerning.

“There have been concerns raised about the quality of the water supply.

“Really, when you’ve got 517 students, the school should be connected to potable water.”

The State Government did not commit to connecting the school to potable water when asked yesterday.

The funding promises come after school parents complain- ed the school was “bursting at the seams” last month, after student numbers jumped from 279 in 2010 to more than 500 this year.

School council vicepresident Jacquelle Gorski last month told the Advertiser the money allocated in the State Budget would only fix “urgent” issues, like 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. It will cover changes of locks,” Ms Gorski said.

Mr Merlino also turned the first sod at the site of the $20.2 million Armstrong Creek West Primary School yesterday, marking the start of construction.

The school — due to open in 2020 — will cater for 475 students as the region’s population growth continues to boom.

“This will be an incredible local school that will provide the community the first-rate education facilities they deserve,” Mr Merlino said.

“We’re getting on with the job of delivering an exciting new primary school to ensure families can access a great local school as the population in Armstrong Creek continues to grow.”

The State Government settled a contract to buy a 2.4ha site on Unity Drive in Mount Duneed earlier this year, after the allocation of $20.2 million for the project in the State Budget.