$12.2 million will deliver WRC project
A $12.26 million building project at Warragul Regional College is set to deliver a new arts hub and general-purpose classrooms.
The major windfall was announced in last week’s state budget and was welcomed by WRC principal Nicole Pryor.
In October, the government announced $1.36 million for the school to begin the planning and design phase of its stage two masterplan works.
But last week’s budget delivered the funds needed to begin the works next year.
The new arts hub and classrooms will replace old and outdated facilities initially part of the Warragul High School buildings, constructed in the 1950s.
At least one building will be demolished as part of the building project.
Ms Pryor said the arts hub would be a centre for creative and integrated arts including digital, 3-D design and film, screen and media.
“We really need our students to be really strong in design, problem solving and communications. Design work is a lot more encompassing now,” she said.
Ms Pryor said the new arts hub would be the perfect setting for a new film, screen and media course. She said it was about creating settings that would lead students into industries of the future.
Ms Pryor said architects were currently visiting the site to tender for the design part of the project.
She expects construction will begin by the end of next year.
Stage one of the redevelopment, which opened last year, was a new STEAM centre for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
“With STEAM and this new space, we will create a really flexible curriculum to cater for growth in our students.
“We’ve got all these things happening already but they are happening in pockets around the school. This development will allow us to bring it all together,” she said.