Next local school underway

Local students in Southbank and Melbourne’s inner city will soon have a second new primary schooling option, with South Melbourne Park Primary School set to open in 2019.

Minister for Education James Merlino joined Member for Albert Park Martin Foley and students from Albert Park Primary on October 10 to turn the first sod and mark the start of construction on the project.

Located at Albert Park Reserve, the new school will be a blend of new and renovated historic buildings, incorporating the old Albert Park Depot and Drill Hall heritage buildings alongside modern new facilities.

The school will also have a new competition-grade netball and basketball gymnasium, which will double as a performance space and a new two-storey learning and community building.

“This is an important project for the local community and by reusing the heritage buildings we will showcase the area’s history and offer students a unique learning environment,” Mr Merlino said.

With the new primary school at Ferrars St, Southbank to open next year, South Melbourne Park comes as the second new primary school project in the local area.

“The new South Melbourne Park Primary School will give local families and students access to great local classrooms in a state-of-the-art building that blends the old and the new in our wonderful Albert Park Reserve,” Mr Foley said.

Mr Merlino told Southbank Local News that a new principal would be appointed to the school at the beginning of 2018, while enrolment zones would also be determined next year.

The school will open in 2019 and cater for 550 students from prep to grade 6.

For more information on the new primary school visit www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/Pages/Schools/South-Melbourne-ParkPrimary-School.aspx