Show us the money
FUNDING for schools, fire stations and South Gippsland Hospital at Foster are among South Gippsland’s wishlist for today’s (Tuesday) State Budget.
Money to fix dangerous locations in the South Gippsland Highway and build the Wonthaggi highball facility also rates highly.
Bass MLA Brian Paynter is hoping for $25 million to build the new McBride Campus of Wonthaggi Secondary College on what will eventually become the Bass Coast Education Precinct in McKenzie Street, Wonthaggi. Bass Coast Specialist School is already on site.
Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien wants funding for stage two of Korumburra Secondary College and a rebuild of Foster Primary School, new fire stations for Foster, Mirboo North and Yarram, and money for a cantilevered viewing platform and tourism developments at Agnes Falls.
South Gippsland Shire Council mayor Cr Ray Argento would like funding to improve the South Gippsland Highway at the Coal Creek bends at Korumburra, and east of Foster.
Eastern Victoria Region MLC Melina Bath is hoping the government will back Bass Coast Shire Council’s commitment to the Wonthaggi highball facility.
Plans are underway for the design of the new Wonthaggi college campus and will be submitted for funding approval to the Victorian Government.
The next stage of the precinct will be to improve post-compulsory education opportunities for youth (above 15 years) and adults (life-long learning).
It is intended the precinct will offer the local community excellence in education and training through shared facilities, resources and expertise.
“It’s now an ideal opportunity. The government keeps making the claim about Victoria being the education state. Well, we want it to be the education state for all people regardless of where you live,” Mr Paynter said.
“Now we’re looking on Tuesday to see the announcement of funding. We’d be very disappointed if we didn’t get it.
“It’s the people of Wonthaggi want and what they need. This is the third budget we’ve asked for funding at. People in this community don’t want wait on this issue anymore.”
The existing McBride Campus is outdated, cramped and landlocked.
Mr Paynter expressed his concern for the students’ wellbeing and education.
“We know the curriculum’s good, we know that teachers and staff are good, we know it’s a good quality education,” he said.
“It’s just the buildings are simply not good enough for modern day standards. It’s not going to be physically large enough for an expanding population so they’re actually bursting at the seams.”
Shadow Education Minister Nick Wakeling inspected the college with Mr Paynter last Thursday.
Mr Wakeling said, “This is an issue that’s been bouncing around for too long. The community wants it solved, they want it fixed and they want it settled.
“Providing a new learning space is a clear indication of the importance of Wonthaggi for the purpose of education.
“They only way that that can happen is if the government confirms that all the funding needed will be provided.”
Plea to government: MP’s Nick Wakeling and Brian Paynter are more than ready to receive the funding they need to rebuild Wonthaggi Secondary College Senior Campus in a new location. They’re hoping the $25 million project will be funded in today’s (Tuesday) State Budget.
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Posted by Tayla Kershaw on May 2 2017. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
