School safety concerns: Parents step up to government

PARENTS at Manifold Heights Primary School are petitioning for upgrades to facilities they say are not up to safety standards.

Enrolments at the school have been increasing year-on-year for the past decade as housing developments in Geelong’s north-west area bring more families to the region.

Despite forecasts the school’s catchment area will grow by almost 290 per cent in the next 20 years, no commitments have been made by the state government to renew the school’s facilities.

The multi-purpose hall already cannot accommodate whole-school events, most concerningly failing to meet occupational health and safety, and shelter-in-place requirements.

School council president Jonathan Connor said investment in the school’s infrastructure is needed.

The council has raised and invested close to $125,000 in the past five years, funding a new playground and other upgrades at the 100-year-old school.

But major building works remain out of reach for the school community.

Connor said multiple funding applications have been submitted since 2021, without success.

The council has also been in ongoing communication with local politicians and the Department of Education, specifically about their concerns over the multi-purpose space.

“These issues need to be addressed now because the gap between our enrolment and our facilities has reached a critical point. What was once manageable is no longer sustainable, and we are now seeing real impacts on safety, student wellbeing and learning,” Connor said.

“Recent events have shown that our current infrastructure cannot safely accommodate whole-school gatherings, particularly in unexpected or extreme conditions. At the same time, enrolment growth, driven by families within our local zone, is continuing, which means the pressure will only increase if action isn’t taken.

“Importantly, this is not just about today. Schools require long-term planning, and if we don’t act now, we risk falling further behind and limiting opportunities for future students.”

A Department of Education study, sighted by this masthead, identified the school’s assembly and multi-purpose spaces as high risk for overcrowding and environmental hazards.

While the report suggested several strategies to mitigate risk, Connor said they would only provide short-term relief and would address address shelter-in-place concerns.

With no funding commitment, the school council is urging local politicians to back the school ahead of the state election.

Connor is calling for Manifold Heights to be included in the 2026-27 state budget for master planning, pointing to correspondence confirming the school’s entitlement to upgraded facilities and existing safety risks.

He is also calling for equitable access to infrastructure planning, consistent with other growing Geelong schools that have recently received master planning and capital funding.

The council has launched an online petition to back the push.

“While the majority of signatures are coming from families within our school zone, which is really important as it highlights local need, we are also seeing support from the broader community,” Connor said.

“That tells us this isn’t just a school issue, it’s a community infrastructure issue that people care about.”