By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
AN ISSUE spanning at least 10 years is still in the pipeline for the Cranbourne South Primary School (CSPS) community, but has taken a major step forward with plans for a new school to be built in the Botanic Ridge estate.
Faced with the fear of being relocated to Cranbourne West, many parents protested the move late last year and have recently received some positive news.
In a letter to Neale Burgess, Member for Hastings, Education Minister James Merlino stated that the ‘government is conscious that CSPS currently operates on a constrained site that is unlikely to meet the community’s need into the future.’
The letter advised that the government has committed to relocating the school to the ‘preferred’ location in Botanic Ridge, as opposed to Casiana Grove estate in Cranbourne West.
The letter also advised that the preferred site was ‘currently unavailable for acquisition as roads and services around the site are yet to be developed.’
Parents at CSPS will eventually have the option of sending their children to two different primary schools in the area.
One to be located on Everlasting Boulevard in Cranbourne West along with CSPS at their current address until the Botanic Ridge campus is built.
Mother of three Natasha Marsh has been at CSPS for 10 years, and said: ‘Every year for the last 10 years there’s been discussions about this new school.’
“It does need to be relocated but not to Cranbourne West and parents are content with the latest information,” Ms Marsh said.
Celebrating its 60th birthday next year, Ms Marsh said the school needed ‘a lot more than TLC.’
“We don’t have a hall, it’s just a portable room and classrooms are taking over the soccer oval,” she said.
Ms Marsh said even though the news was a step in the right direction for Cranbourne South the ‘land developers of Botanic Ridge and the City of Casey have a lot to answer for.’
“Botanic Ridge has been there eight to 10 years and all they have is a park and a milk bar.
“When they sell a house the buyer is charged a development fee which is meant to be for schools and community centres and it’s all been empty promises,” she said.
After the positive response to his letter Neale Burgess, who has spearheaded the relocation with local parents, wrote on Facebook: ‘A great win for the Cranbourne South community.’
