Bellbrae Primary School gets $2.4m for extra upgrades

BELLBRAE Primary School has received an extra $2.4 million for upgrades as part of a $1.18 billion education building blitz announced by the Andrews Government.

The school will use the new money to upgrade its water and sewerage site services.

Monday’s announcement is in addition to $9.1 million slated for the school in the 2019-2020 state budget, which will be used for a new gym, oval, learning spaces and STEM facilities.

“The upgrades at Bellbrae Primary School will ensure that local students have access to a quality schools and modern facilities meaning they will get the most out of their education,” South Barwon Labor MP Darren Cheeseman said.

The $2.4 million for Bellbrae Primary School is part of $388.8 million being provided to deliver 57 upgrade and modernisation projects at schools across Victoria, including all school upgrade projects committed to by Labor at the 2018 election.

The works will create space for more than 21,000 extra students in Victoria’s education system and create more than 1,600 construction jobs.

The overall Building Works package will provide $2.7 billion towards shovel-ready projects and is intended to stimulate Victoria’s construction industry during the coronavirus pandemic.
It also includes:

• $500,000 to maintain and upgrade 23,000 public and community housing dwellings and build 168 new homes
• $328 million for resurfacing and patching roads, about 300 kilometres of regional track improvements, repairs at more than 15 train stations and more maintenance on trains and trams
• $382 million in upgrades, maintenance and new experiences at tourism destinations across the state
• More than $100 million for the critical upgrades of CFA and SES stations, disability accommodation, mental health and aged care facilities, and
• $180 million for a planning and acceleration fund.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive officer Paul Guerra said the Andrews Government had shown initiative and leadership with Building Works.

“The construction sector has operated successfully through the COVID-19 crisis, and this initiative secures significant money to ensure the sector continues to operate across the whole of Victoria with some brilliant statewide infrastructure initiatives.

“For many Victorian businesses, construction projects alone won’t help the economy restart. It’s time for the rest of business to get back to work and we need all industry, including the hard-hit hospitality, events and tourism sectors, to be operating again.”