Work underway on school redevelopment

H. TROON’S works on Miners Rest Primary School’s expansion and facility upgrades have begun.

Worth $17.1 million, principal Dale Power said his students can look forward to some amazing learning opportunities.

“We’ll have some 21st century facilities that we can all thrive in, and space to enjoy,” he said.

“We are on a rather small school site at the moment, so this will have a significant impact on everyone and stand this community in good stead for many, many generations of future learning for our students who really deserve it.”

A full-size gymnasium will not only be available to students for physical education and recreation, but for the broader Miners Rest community outside of school hours.

Mr Power said new learning spaces include a “state-of-the-art” arts wing. The original school building will be repurposed into a library space, and the current gymnasium will become a science, technology, engineering and maths unit.

“The STEM space is a really exciting addition and something we don’t currently have on our existing site,” he said.

Mr Power said the school community is appreciative to the State Government and Victorian School Building Authority.

“They’ve done an amazing job, acquiring the land and supporting us. We can’t wait to get into our new facility around the middle of 2021. It’s an exciting time,” he said

“We’ve had a lot of great, much appreciated input from other stakeholders, such as Tectura Architects. They’ve had the opportunity to map our way forward.

“H. Troon have just begun work here and we really feel a strong connection with them. We’re very much supported by them to get the best result we can from the great project.”

Mr Power also thanked the “integral” people who have served on school council and have been advocates for this project since he was appointed at Miners Rest in 2011.

“They’ve played a huge part in where we are right now,” he said.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, who was representing the state Minister for Education at the event, said there were 150 children at the school just under a decade ago.

“We’re redeveloping Miners Rest Primary School to allow for 500 students, which is a real reflection of the great community; people want to live here, work here and they want their kids to go to this great school,” she said.

“We want to make sure teachers, students and the community have classrooms and spaces that match the quality of the learning that’s going on.”