Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (12:55:05) — (14 392) My question is to the Minister for Education. What information can the minister provide in regard to the second stage of the new Aitken Hill primary school? This year’s budget provided $6.78 million in additional funding to deliver the second stage of this new school, bringing the total investment to over $20 million to build what will be an outstanding new learning facility. With the opening of Aitken Hill primary school rapidly approaching for term 1 2019, I welcome the opportunity to share more details about stage 2, and I thank the minister for delivering these new facilities for Yuroke residents.

Response:

Thank you for the continued advocacy you do on behalf of the people of Yuroke, particularly on matters relating to the provision of new schools.

The latest Budget continues the Education State reforms with record investment in our schools and early-childhood services. The Budget is investing $1.25 billion to expand and modernise Victoria’s schools. This will ensure every Victorian family, wherever they live, has access to a great government school. This will also ensure Victorian schools can cater for the state’s rapidly-growing population, with more than 90,000 additional student places needed over the next five years.

I am pleased to confirm that the 2018-19 Victorian State Budget allocated additional funding to Aitken Hill Primary School for Stage 2. This means that the proposed indoor physical education facilities have now been fully funded and the project remains on track to open for Term 1, 2019.

The new Aitken Hill Primary School will accommodate up to 475 students from Prep to Year 6. The school designs were developed following consultation with the local community in 2017 and construction is now underway.

The school principal will be appointed in Term 3, 2018. Once appointed, the principal will focus on recruiting staff and setting the future direction of the school, which will be ready to open for local students in the 2019 school year.

The Hon James Merlino MP
Deputy Premier
Minister for Education
Minister for Emergency Services