Lorne P-12 College Masterplan stages 2 & 3 nearing completion

This year has seen an exciting year at Lorne P-12 College with extensive beautification of the school grounds nearly completed and the provision of vastly improved playground and landscaped surfaces for our students.

The development of the various stages of the masterplan for the college grounds has taken place during the past two years and included an extensive consultation process with the school community, input coming from students, parents and staff. The college is fortunate to have amongst our talented parent group, consultant architect Josh Crosbie. Josh has spent countless hours developing and refining the plans and has worked closely with this year’s Masterplan sub-committee of Geoff Couper (chair), Karen Biggelaar, Stephen Bayley, Lee Gordon, Matt Neill, Don Tyrer and Tony Speed. Thank you to all members of the sub-committee in giving their time and expertise towards the improvement of the college environment.

Stage 1 saw the installation during Term 1 of the landscaped area in the middle of the college and this has proven a very popular area with students. The project was funded by an ‘Inclusive Schools’ grant and constructed by Southern Edge Landscapes.

Stages 2 and 3 concentrated on the area extending from the Grove Road entrance to the RSL wing along the Smith Street frontage. Again, contractors, Southern Edge Landscapes, along with Chris Trigg Plumbing were awarded the tender and at the time of going to print have nearly completed the works.

These works included renewal and replacement of old and damaged storm water and sewerage pipes and construction of a new front fence extending along the length of the Smith Street frontage and half way up the Grove Road frontage. New grassed and landscaped play areas extend west from the fence and a new main entrance to the college has been constructed midway along the Smith Street frontage. A new pebbled concrete pathway links the historic archway at the corner of Smith Street and Grove Road with the new entrance and the existing but upgraded entrance near the RSL wing.

Part of these works has been funded through the Department of Education’s infrastructure improvement grant and this particularly includes the sewerage, storm water and pedestrian paving.

The College Parent Club have worked tirelessly to raise funds for this project and have been able to contribute more than $65,000 to stages 2 and 3; an amazing achievement! These funds have gone towards the significant improvements in landscaping and play areas and completion of the front fence. The college would like to extend a huge thank you to all members of the Parent Club and anyone involved in assisting with raising these funds.

In 2016, the college applied for a Falls Festival Grant and received $10,000 which has contributed towards the construction of the front fence. In 2017, another application was made to include indigenous sculptures to frame the new entrance and we were again successful with $9,000 now going towards this project. The college would like to thank the Falls Festival for making these funds available and the voting public for their support.

Another feature of the area will be a Willow Pod that will be constructed by students under the guidance of local artist Veronica Phillips, this will take place during the first part of 2018. Restoration of the historic archway is also a focus of future work and we are aiming to complete this during 2018.

Please take the time to drive along Smith Street and check out the new look Lorne P-12 College. We are all looking forward to the next stages in the ongoing improvements to our beautiful learning environment.

Geoff Couper
Vice Principal
Lorne P-12 College