ad

Education funding boost

Education funding boost

Local education received a boost in the State Budget last month, with more than $50 million announced to help deliver two new primary schools in the local area by 2018.

As part of its record surplus, the Labor Government announced a $1.1 billion statewide education blitz for maintenance, classroom upgrades and 11 new schools.

Most importantly for Southbank families was the announcement of $44 million to fully fund the new South Melbourne Primary School at Ferrars St, Southbank, with construction works beginning at the site last month.  

$8.4 million was also announced for the delivery of South Melbourne Park Primary School at the Parks Victoria building in Albert Park.

Both schools are expected to be open and accepting enrolments in time for the 2018 school year.

Local MP Martin Foley said the funding was biggest investment in the future of local children to date.

“Not since the 1880s has there been this much activity in our local area,” he said.

“This funding makes up for the cuts by the previous Liberal State Government and sets us on a path to meet the needs of a growing demand for our world-class education system.”

This is in addition to a further $5 million for initial works for the new Prahran College, as well as the new Albert Park College year nine campus, which was announced in last year’s budget.

President of local education lobby group Two Schools Now, David Foran, said the group welcomed the funding and was continuing the push for other new projects.

“We welcome the funding commitments for South Melbourne Park and Ferrars St in the budget,” he said.

“Two Schools Now looks forward to working with the State Government to ensure local demand for public secondary schools is met with quality accessible infrastructure.”

While the additional funding for existing projects comes as good news to local families, calls for further schools in the inner city region continue.

At March’s Fishermans Bend Community Forum, Planning Minister Richard Wynne announced that, with population expected to skyrocket in the inner city, a minimum of six additional schools would be required.

However, no funding was included in this year’s budget for land acquisition or planning for new projects in the local area.

Join our Facebook Group
ad