Labor pledges $8.9 million to build new Bellarine VCE centre

A RE-ELECTED Andrews Labor Government will invest $8.9 million to build a new VCE centre at Bellarine Secondary College.

Member for Bellarine Lisa Neville visited the school on Friday to share the news with excited staff and students, who welcomed the prospect of new seminar rooms, a student lounge and administration space.

Ms Neville said if re-elected, her government would allocate the money to the school in the first budget.

“We do intend to win, so I feel confident we’ll be opening a new VCE Centre here in the next couple of years,” Ms Neville said.

Principal Alison Murphy welcomed the announcement, and said the funding would give the school a great opportunity to do something substantial.

The government has already invested $2.5 million to upgrade classrooms, science and chemistry labs, the arts foyer and the main office area at Bellarine Secondary College.

“Bellarine Secondary College is a great school and I have worked hard with Principal Alison Murphy and the wider community to ensure it continues to grow for the benefit of all local students,” Ms Neville said.

“This announcement will deliver the state-ofthe- art facilities students and their teachers need to achieve their best.

“We’ve already upgraded the classrooms, science labs, arts foyer and main office area at Bellarine Secondary College, but there’s more to do and only Labor will deliver almost $9 million for a new VCE centre.”

The government says it has invested more than $3.8 billion to build 70 new schools and upgrade 1,300 schools across the state since coming to office in 2014.

On the Bellarine, schools like Portarlington, Barwon Heads, Leopold, Drysdale, Portarlington and Ocean Grove primaries have all been upgraded since 2014.

Ms Neville said a re-elected Labor government would keep delivering for Victorians with more new schools and upgrades to existing schools across the state.