Lookout for new schools

By Sarah Schwager
CASEY Council is examining future school sites to cater for the growing number of young people moving into the area.
At last week’s council meeting, councillors urged that council push for further funding to open new schools in Casey as the population rapidly expands.
About 20 per cent of new residents moving to Casey are school aged, between 5 and 19 years old.
The Department of Education and Training (DET) recently commissioned ratio consultants to prepare School Provision Plans for future primary and secondary schools within the municipality.
They identified sites for a Merinda Park primary school in Cranbourne North and a second Cranbourne West primary school.
However, the council has identified a number of other school sites needed in the area to meet Casey’s future needs.
These include primary schools at the Carlisle Park estate in Cranbourne, Evans Road in Cranbourne West, Cranbourne South, west of the transmission line, Ranfurlie Golf Club in Cranbourne West, Marriot development in Lyndhurst, and secondary schools in the Hunt Club Estate in Cranbourne East and Stockland development in Cranbourne North.
The council decided to write to the Growth Areas Authority and to the DET requesting that the School Provision Plans be revised in light of the additional population growth expected in Casey.
Councillor Colin Bulter also requested that the relocation of Cranbourne South Primary School be included.
“The school is grossly overpopulated with children at the moment,” he said.
“The kids’ population is going to skyrocket yet nothing is being done about schools.”