$14m for Belmont High if Liberals win

BELMONT High School is in line to get funding in the low eight figures for major upgrades regardless of who wins November’s state election, with the Liberals committing $14 million towards the works.

The state Liberals recently pledged their government would “immediately” provide $14 million towards the first stage of fully implementing the school’s masterplan.

Once fully completed, Belmont High School’s masterplan will see delivery of a new Science, Arts and Technology Centre with about 20 new classrooms, a double gym with extra classrooms, two new basketball/netball courts, a resurfaced hockey pitch, and a new library and VCE centre.

Liberal candidate for South Barwon Andrew Katos said the Liberals and Nationals were proud to support Belmont High School.

“We will consult with the school community to determine which stage of the masterplan is their priority, commence with that stage and then progressively work through the remaining stages.

“As a former student of the school, I am proud to make this commitment to bring Belmont High School’s facilities into the 21st century.”

The Liberals say Belmont High School was opened in 1955 and many of the school buildings are no longer fit-for-purpose or conducive to a modern learning environment for close to 1,300 students, and if they win, the party will work with the School community from next year to progress its highest priority aspects of this plan as part of Stage 1 works.

“Belmont High’s enrolments have remained constant for many years and that the facilities have not kept pace with those continued numbers,” Shadow Education Minister David Hodgett said.

“Since the 1980s, Belmont High has constantly had between 1,200 and 1,300 students.

“This significant investment will deliver for current and future students and their families at Belmont High School.”

The pledge follows an election commitment in early October by incumbent South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman to spend $11.2 million to deliver the next stage of the school’s master plan, which would come on top of the more than $5.2 million his government had already invested at Belmont High School.