DOREEN residents are stunned to receive a $10 million new primary school when they have been flat out campaigning for a secondary school.
Lisa Lawrence from the Doreen Residents Action Group said that while a primary school was needed, the government should build a secondary school first.
“Every year, another group of kids leaves Laurimar Primary with nowhere local to go to high school. We’d all rather have had the high school first,” she said.
The government has earmarked land in Cookes Road, Doreen, for a secondary school, and residents and council executives have pushed for funds. Before last week’s state budget Whittlesea council said the school topped its wishlist.
Land for the new South Doreen Primary School has not been bought. Northern Metropolitan MLC Craig Ondarchie’s spokesman said: “We are hoping it will be in the vicinity of the land previously purchased for the high school.”
Sarah Lee, of the Secondary School for 3754 Action Group said:
“Our kids are leaving primary school and travelling an hour and a half by bus through heavy traffic to go to either Whittlesea Secondary or Diamond Valley Secondary.
“It’s unreasonable when we’re such a high-density area.”
Laurimar Primary School principal Darryl Furze was disappointed there were no budget windfalls for his crowded school.
“Ninety five per cent of our students live within 2km of the school, and this area is still being developed, so a new school at Doreen South, probably 4km away, will certainly change nothing for us. We are stretched to the limit.”
He said his school was likely to reach 800 students on a 3.5 square kilometre site by next year.
