The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with building the new schools Victorian families need, with a new package to buy land for more than a dozen new schools across Melbourne’s fastest growing areas.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Education James Merlino today visited John Henry Primary School in Pakenham to announce the $236.8 million investment to purchase land for 14 new school sites – including land next to John Henry Primary School to build a new secondary school.
The funding will buy land for schools across Melbourne’s booming inner and outer suburbs, including land in the growth areas of Clyde North, Cranbourne West, Mickleham, Deanside, Rockbank, Cobblebank, Wollert, Wyndham Vale and Pakenham.
A site will also be acquired in Seddon for a new Seddon Campus as part of the Footscray Learning Precinct.
Melbourne’s inner and outer suburbs are some of the fastest growing communities in Australia, and it’s vital that we make the investments needed now, to meet the demand of the future.
The Labor Government is now delivering an unprecedented 64 new school projects across Victoria to meet the demand created by the state’s population boom, with more than 90,000 school-aged children and teenagers predicted to call Victoria home by 2022.
This includes having already built the school infrastructure needed to meet the needs of Victoria’s growing student population until 2019 through an unprecedented $2.5 billion investment as part of the Education State.
And this critical funding to acquire land for 14 new schools comes on top of this record investment.
The new school sites were identified following in-depth analysis of demographic data and enrolments at existing schools.
Community engagement on the new schools will start in coming weeks, with details available at the Victoria School Building Authority website: www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Premier Daniel Andrews
“We’re building the new schools Victoria needs – not just for today or tomorrow but for years to come.”
“Whether it’s here in Pakenham or out in the West we’re giving local families the certainty they need that their kids will be able to attend a great local school, close to home.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“Unlike the former Liberal Government who didn’t invest in schools – we’re breaking the cycle of short-term planning for new schools and investing now to meet the needs of the future.”
“Right across the state we’re building new schools to make sure that no matter where they live, every child has the chance to get a great education.”