Andrews visits Leopold to announce playground news

AN ARCHITECT has been appointed to design a new inclusive playground at Leopold Primary School, with Premier Dan Andrews popping in last week to make the announcement.

Premier Andrews visited Leopold last Friday with Labor candidate for Bellarine Alison Marchant to tour the school’s existing facilities and announce that Searle x Waldron Architecture would lead the design work.

“A great education doesn’t stop at the classroom walls – every Victorian child deserves an engaging school experience they can fully participate in, and that’s exactly what we’re delivering for Leopold Primary School,” Mr Andrews said.

Outgoing Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said she was excited to see the project progressing, with an architect now on board.

“I can’t wait to see the designs for this new playground come to life,” she said.

Construction on the inclusive playground is expected to be complete in the first half of 2023, once designs are finalised and a builder is appointed.

The project will be brought to life thanks to more than $178,000 delivered through Round 7 of Labor’s Inclusive Schools Fund, which supports small infrastructure projects that make a huge difference to the educational and social needs of all children, including those with disability or additional needs.

The Labor Government also delivered a $3.2 million upgrade for Leopold Primary School in the Victorian Budget 2017/18, building a new learning community with modern classrooms, amenities and staff work areas and replacing the relocatable student amenities block with a permanent, fit-for-purpose building.