By Violet Li
Cranbourne Park Primary School is excited to see its oval renovated in the second half of this year as its upgrade is retained in this year’s State Budget.
The school was allocated $1.9 million in the 2023-24 State Budget, and about $1.7 million is estimated to be spent in the 2024-25 financial year.
Principal Ross Carlson said the new oval would have a running track with football and soccer pitches and basketball and netball courts.
“And then there’s a section for playgrounds for the children,” he said.
“There’s an area of native garden vegetation that’ll support sensory play areas for children who have additional needs or their inclusion and disability sector of the school, and that’ll help us regulate students’ needs and emotions while keeping them engaged in school.
“The upgrade was still in the planning. It was about to go to tender. The construction should start later this year.”
Mr Carlson said the school was very grateful for the much-needed upgrade.
“I’ve been principal for four years, and we’ve been applying for upgrades to the school since. We haven’t had one for quite a long time,” he said.
“We’ve been looking at upgrading the school to try and improve to the next century, and the oval upgrade is the first step.
“We’re happy that we’re getting this project (oval upgrade) done, but we want to move towards the classrooms being upgraded.
“Our classrooms were still built in the 1960s. They need to be upgraded. Because the school has a lot of asbestos in the buildings, it’s quite expensive.”
Students have been very excited about the upgrade.
“I’m really excited for the new oval even though we’re going to be gone before we see it,” last-year student Jackson said.
“I will be able to see it, but I can just pass it by because my sibling goes here, so I’ll have to pick her up,” Kasie said.
Mr Carlson said they wanted to thank Cranbourne MP Pauline Richards for lobbying hard for them.
