Row over ramps

By Bridget Cook
A CRANBOURNE school’s dream has turned into a construction nightmare after a spate of problems following federal funding for a new gymnasium.
Courtenay Gardens Primary School had a new gymnasium on its wish-list for several years before it received $3 million as part of the Government’s Building the Education Revolution this year.
However school council president Nathan Prowd said the grant has already caused a number of headaches even before works had begun on the gym.
A number of portable classrooms had to be relocated to other parts of the school grounds to clear the site for the gym.
Mr Prowd said the move had meant the buildings had lost their wheelchair access and the roofing in between them that provides shade.
Previously, all classrooms in the school had ramps to accommodate the three students who used wheelchairs.
“We have been told one portable will get this access but no time frame has been given,” Mr Prowd said.
The relocated portables do not have concrete walkways which has raised another concern for the school.
“We have been told there is no funding allocated to concrete and replace the walkways,” Mr Prowd said.
“The process by the Government wasn’t meant to alter structures we already had.
“We may now have to spend money out of our own budget to bring some buildings up to a presentable and suitable standard again.
“We just want our school returned to the state it was.”
Mr Prowd said if the school was required to fund these works it would have to tap into money which would be otherwise allocated for school programs.
“We get numerous visitors to see our programs, in particular the multimedia and reading programs.”
“These have only been possible by using our budget carefully for the development of materials and facilities.
“If we have to reallocate funds then it is these extra programs that are bound to suffer.”
Holt MP Anthony Byrne said with more than 95 individual projects approved for 50 schools in Holt, delivering the Building the Education Revolution program had required unprecedented efforts from education authorities.
“The Victorian Department of Education has appointed project managers who are expected to work with local schools to address any concerns as they arise and continue to work with schools over the course of their projects,” said Mr Byrne.
“Wheelchair access and concrete pathways will be provided from the main school buildings to both the relocated portable classrooms and the multipurpose hall.
“I will continue to work closely with the Courtenay Gardens Primary School to help resolve any concerns,” he said.