Bellarine schools improved and improving

MAJOR works at one Bellarine school have just begun and have just finished at another, in two projects funded by the state government.

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville visited Clifton Springs Primary School in late July to officially turn the sod on its $15.6 million upgrade.

The project will deliver a totally refurbished school and include new junior and senior student learning centres, incorporating general classrooms and specialist facilities.

The works will also incorporate a new administration and resource centre.

Ms Neville said the state government had provided $500,000 to the school for its master plan in 2018 and it was great to see construction start.

“Clifton Springs was built in the 1980s and has served the community well, but with the school ageing and the community growing, the state government has recognised the need to modernise the school,” Ms Neville said.

She congratulated principal Meg Parker, her team and the wider school community on the work they had done in getting the project under way.

“The school and families have done an incredible job in supporting students over the last few years and with these new facilities we are ensuring students will have the modern state of the art facilities they so deserve.”

Ms Neville said “the school upgrade will also provide important local construction jobs through Geelong builders Lyons Construction and Minx Architecture.

“Clifton Springs is a great school and this upgrade will ensure it continues to deliver a first class education to students in first-class facilities.”

Ms Neville also visited Bellarine Secondary College’s Drysdale campus to celebrate the opening of the school’s recently completed VCE Centre and the installation of the solar panels at the school.

She said she was pleased to have worked with the school on securing state government funding of $8.9 million to build the centre.

This funding follows $1.2 million in 2017 used to modernise and refurbish school facilities at the Drysdale and Ocean Grove campuses.

The VCE Centre includes state of the art seminar rooms, a student lounge and administration space.

“Bellarine senior students can now look forward to studying in a purpose-built centre, ensuring they have the best facilities in which to undertake their important VCE studies,” Ms Neville said.

“In addition, I also commend the school on their initiative of having solar panels installed on their Drysdale Campus Technology Building.

“Again, the state government has been proud to have contributed significant funding towards this installation through its Greener Government Schools Building Program.

“Importantly the program is part of our government’s commitment to zero net carbon emissions by 2050.

“Bellarine Secondary College is a first class school and I congratulate principal Wayne Johannesen, teachers, staff and the school community on the VCE Centre and their commitment to the environment.”