Ms SPENCE (Yuroke) (11:55:00) — (13 958) My constituency question is for the Minister for Education. What information can the minister provide to update Yuroke residents on the acquisition of land for the future Greenvale north‑west primary school? The acquisition of this land was funded in the 2017–18 budget and it will help to address population growth by providing a second public primary school for Greenvale residents. This is in addition to Labor’s massive investment in education for Yuroke families, including additional resources for schools; new and upgraded facilities; one new school completed, another underway and two more on the way — in contrast to the lack of investment by the former Liberal government who failed to fund land acquisitions, failed to provide any new schools and left local schools under extreme pressure in this rapidly growing area. I know that Greenvale residents are eager to hear from the minister about how the first steps towards this future facility are progressing, and I look forward to sharing his response with them.

Response:

Thank you for your question, and your advocacy for Greenvale residents.

I am advised that the Victorian School Building Authority is in negotiations for the purchase of a preferred site for the Greenvale North West Primary School. As you mentioned, land acquisition funding for this school was provided as part of the current 2017-18 State Budget.

As you are aware, land acquisition for a school site involves careful consideration of site suitability. It is a process that generally takes about 12 months from the grant of funding, assuming that there are no site specific issues that may need to be resolved.

I trust this information is of assistance.

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