College moves from planning to design with big budget allocation

BACCHUS Marsh College has received a $19m state budget allocation to build a new learning hub.

Eureka MP Michaela Settle announced the budget news earlier this week, describing it as a big win for the town, the school and families.

Settle, who also holds the ministerial regional development and agriculture portfolios, said the funding would create capacity for an additional 300 students.

She said the new hub would ensure the college could continue to support the growing town with modern, high-quality learning environments.

“This is a big win for Bacchus Marsh and a great outcome for local students and families,” Settle said.

“This investment will make sure our growing community has the modern facilities it needs, while creating more opportunities for local students to learn and thrive.

“Strong schools are at the heart of strong communities, and this investment will support Bacchus Marsh as it continues to grow.”

In the 2025-26 budget the college shared in $10 million allocated for planning and designing future upgrades at 20 schools.

The new allocation will allow the hub’s design and construction to proceed, and is part of a $294.8m budget spend for school upgrades across the state.

Bacchus Marsh College is more than 100 years old and currently has about 1000 enrolled students.

Principal Dionne Fenton said when the planning funding was announced last year that the college had ideas for development, and welcomed the budget allocation.

She said key priorities included upgrades to the oval, a performing arts centre, and senior and junior learning communities.

“We do have a vision and some ideas for what comes next, and we are midway planning for a school oval recreational redevelopment,” she said.

“The opportunity to revisit a musical performing arts centre would be something, and certainly a senior learning community village and a junior learning community village with an extension to a comprehensive wellbeing space.”