By Brendan Rees
Clyde Primary School would receive a $22.8 million expansion by 2022 if Labor is re-elected, Treasurer Tim Pallas has pledged.
During his visit to the school on Friday 16 November, Mr Pallas said new facilities would be built to accommodate growing enrolments at the school and ensure that students have enough space to play outside.
He said the type facilities had yet to be decided: “It’s entirely up to the school community and Victorian Schools Building Authority to reach an agreement.
“It’s a big capital allocation for a primary school…It’s important that we meet the needs and expectations of the school community.”
A site next door to the school is expected to be acquired by June 2017 with construction to start shortly after.
“An important part of this is to make sure that the school community have confidence in the conduction that’s going to occur here,” Mr Pallas said.
Principal Fiona Pratt welcomed the announcement, saying an expansion was timely given the student enrolments were expected to grow from 407 to 470 next year.
“Traditionally, Clyde has been quite a small rural school, and I think the urban development has actually caught up with the school,” she said.
“So definitely parents have been wondering what’s going to happen next.”
The State Government says it has invested more than $3.8 billion to build new schools and upgrade 1,300 schools across the state since coming to office four years ago.
“The Liberals closed schools and cut funding to our education system and given the chance, they’ll do it again,” Mr Pallas said.
Labor Candidate for Bass Jordan Crugnale said the investment was important as the Clyde was one of the fastest growing areas in Australia.
“Only Labor can be trusted to deliver the facilities that students and staff need, as our kids grow and learn,” she said.
The Coalition has been contacted for comment.
