Liberals pledge $8 million towards Bellbrae Primary School

THE Liberals have made a major play for the education vote ahead of the state election, pledging to spend $8 million on Bellbrae Primary School if the party comes to power in November.

The school council has been advocating for better facilities at the school for some time, and estimates $8 million is needed to build four new learning community buildings (with four classrooms each), a fully-enclosed gymnasium, a multi-purpose sporting oval, staff and professional learning spaces, more storage, and specialist learning spaces such as a music room and a library.

The school – which has about 520 pupils and 60 staff – uses tank water, and the funding would also be used to connect the school to mains water.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and South Barwon MP Andrew Katos toured the school on Tuesday before making the funding commitment, which they said would be delivered in the first term of a Liberal National government.

“No school should have to rely on tank water, particularly one that’s got more than 500 kids,” Mr Guy said.

“It’s about time, it’s overdue, and for the growth pressures that Bellbrae Primary School is going through, I think it is a good announcement and the right thing to do.”

Mr Katos said the school’s population had doubled since he became the member for South Barwon eight years ago.

“All schools accept that there’s got to be some portables, but when more than half the classrooms are portables (12 out of 21), we need to do something about that and get permanent classrooms for the students.”

Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney met with the school council on Sunday but said at the time she could not commit to a similar level of funding, nor could Victorian Education Minister James Merlino on Tuesday following the Liberals’ announcement.

“You can’t trust the Liberals on schools – when they were given the chance, they cut education funding right across the state,” Mr Merlino said.

“We’ve already invested $1.05 million to upgrade Bellbrae Primary School, and will continue to work with the school on its future needs.”

Bellbrae school council president Mitch Barrow said he was rapt to hear the funding commitment, and was hopeful there would eventually be bipartisan support.

“It’s all about the kids having the facilities they’re entitled to. We’ve done a lot of hard work to get to this point, it’s not over yet, but it seems like the wheels are turning.”