Southbank Primary School?

Editorial Comment By Sean Car

The new vertical primary school currently under construction at Ferrars St, which will open to students next year, could well be named after Southbank.

A name to replace the school’s interim name South Melbourne (Ferrars St) Primary School is yet to be determined and based on the State Government’s naming rules, Southbank Primary School is a realistic candidate.

While the school’s Ferrars St location is within the City of Port Phillip’s municipality, it sits right within the border of Southbank’s suburban boundary.

Under the naming rules outlined by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), a name must adhere to guidelines set out in the Geographic Place Names Act 1998.

One of those rules is that a place cannot be named after a location it is not in. Therefore, the name foreseen by many, South Melbourne Primary School, does not comply.

While located in the Montague Precinct of Fishermans Bend, Montague Primary School could potentially clash with the Montague Continuing Education Centre on Montague St.

The school’s principal Noel Creece refused to comment when contacted by Southbank Local News, while State Member for Albert Park Martin Foley said the matter rested with the Department of Education and Training.

When asked if Southbank Primary School was being considered as a name, a spokesperson for Education Minister James Merlino said the naming process was still underway.

“South Melbourne (Ferrars Street) Primary School is an interim name and the school naming process is currently underway,” the spokesperson said.

“The school will continue to be called South Melbourne (Ferrars Street) Primary School until a new name is endorsed and gazetted, which we expect to happen over coming months.”

As reported in the June edition of Southbank Local News, Noel Creece said that the majority of expressions of interest from families wanting to enrol their kids had so far come from the Southbank and South Wharf catchment zone.

Under school naming rules, a name must be put to the community for a 30-day consultation period before ministerial approval can be issued.

With the school set to open in 2018 the matter could prove to be a stumbling block for the school’s administration, as a name will be required for everything from registering an ABN to producing uniforms.

Do you think the new school should be named Southbank Primary? Send your thoughts to [email protected]