By BRIDGET COOK
THE land has been purchased and many Casey primary schools are reaching their capacity, yet no funding commitment has been made for the construction of Casey Central East Primary School.
That is why local mother Nicole Devey and Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley have started a petition calling for a commitment to build the new school in Cranbourne North.
The Coalition Government provided funding to purchase land for the new school in the 2011 State Budget, but after more than two years no money has been allocated to construct the school which would be located in The Avenue estate.
Ms Devey, who lives in Cranbourne North, said she hoped the school would be ready for her children to attend there next year.
“That is not possible now,” she said.
“More and more families are moving into the area and there just aren’t enough schools to accommodate our growing community.
“We want to send our children to the very best local school, yet we are facing a situation where our local schools are almost completely full.
“Because of how crowded the schools are, teachers are under pressure.
“Right now we have overcrowded schools and an empty paddock, when what we need is a new school and we need it today.”
Ms Graley said she continued to be contacted by concerned local parents asking why this school had yet to be built.
“Local primary schools are overflowing, many are now approaching 1000 students and one has already blown past it,” she said.
“I have raised this matter in parliament, I have written to the minister, I have invited him to come down and visit local schools to see the very real issues they are facing.”
A spokesperson for Education Minister Martin Dixon said the State Government was aware of the need for a new primary school in the growing Casey area.
“That is why the Coalition Government purchased land for Casey Central East Primary School in May 2012,” the spokesperson said.
“Funding for construction of the school will be considered as part of future budget deliberations.”
