Education in Melbourne’s north was a winner in last week’s state budget, with big-ticket items including new primary schools in Epping North, Mernda South and Mill Park Lakes announced as part of a $500 million statewide education package.
Whittlesea Secondary College also received $4.7 million. Principal Terry Twomey said the school was thrilled with the funding, which comes after a difficult few years following the loss of 21 members of the school community in the Black Saturday bushfires.
“We are delighted by the news and really look forward to the opportunity to upgrade facilities, particularly for our year 7 to 9 students,” he said.
“We’ve been greatly under-resourced in the lower end of the school, so this gives us the opportunity to address those issues and undertake an audit of existing facilities.”
Mr Twomey said some of the funding would be used to improve the school’s performing arts space.
In Hume, Mount Ridley P-9 College in Craigieburn secured a $5 million commitment to complete the fifth and final stage of the school, with $1.5 million to be rolled out next financial year.
Mount Ridley’s acting principal, Con Stamatelatos, said he was hopeful the money allocated would be enough to finish the senior school complex.
About 180 year 11 students are being taught in portables at the school, which opened in 2009.
“We have missed out in the last three budgets,” Mr Stamatelatos said. “It’ll be great for the kids of the future.”
Mr Stamatelatos said architects would be appointed and a construction tender advertised as soon as possible.
“We would hope construction starts by the end of the year and be ready by the end of next year,” he said.
Education Minister Martin Dixon also announced $11.5 million for stage one of Doreen Secondary College. The new school will open to year 7 and 8 students in 2015.
Mr Dixon made the announcement last Tuesday morning during an inspection of the new Doreen South Primary School, being built on an adjoining site.
Hume Valley Special School in Broadmeadows will receive more than $2.3 million to finish renovations and
construct a performing arts hub.
Broadmeadows Special Developmental School also scored $4 million, while the Northern School for Autism will receive $3 million.
Melissa Cunningham
