No sign of progress on P-12 College works

The shovel-ready second stage has been on hold since the first stage was completed in 2017, and there have been no signs that the government is willing to fund the works which are expected to cost $15m-$18m.

The Victorian Government was contacted by The Yarrawonga Chronicle but did not respond to a request for comment, with a spokeswoman saying only that the government does not discuss budget decisions in the lead-up.

Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy raised the matter in parliament last month and invited Premier Jacinta Allan to visit the college to see “the desperate need for funding”.

“Yarrawonga is exploding, and we need a school that is ready for the population growth now, not 10 years too late,” Mr McCurdy said.

Mr McCurdy – who was part of a coalition proposal that committed $18m to the works at the last election – said the project was shovel-ready and affordable.

“They want affordable shovel ready projects; well, we have a shovel ready project at an affordable price that has been waiting for years,” he said.

Outgoing P-12 School Council president Carolyn O’Dwyer, who handed over the reigns last month, said school buildings constructed in the 1950s were “dilapidated” and with population growth in the town, the arguments for funding were strong.

“The need to finish off Stage 2 is well supported right throughout the hierarchy of the education department but we just can’t get the government to tick off on funding,” she said.

“The minister has been invited and (Labor member for Northern Victoria) Jaclyn Symes to inspect but both were too busy.

“New learning spaces would be more inspirational for students to learn in and teachers to expand their teaching program – for example, new science labs would be great.

“The most recent response from the minister was pretty feeble, a little bit of money for building maintenance which every school in the state gets. But our school is falling down around the kids’ ears. Some kids are in buildings their great grandparents were in.”

The Stage 2 works would include the construction of the following on the Gilmore St site:

•Year 7 and 8 general and specialist classrooms adjacent to the Year 5-8 basketball courts, closer to the overall college administration building.

•Year 9 – 12 general and specialist classrooms directly behind the college administration building.

•College basketball stadium and car parks to be utilised by students, teachers, and the community.

•College oval to be utilised by students and staff at YCP-12, Yarrawonga Mulwala Cricket Club, Yarrawonga Mulwala Little Athletics and other sporting groups.

Mrs O’Dwyer said the school’s enrolments were increasing, unusual for regional public schools, and that would likely continue with the residential construction slated for places like Glanmire Park and Bundalong.

“There are great things happening in the school but we can’t get the new buildings over the line,” she lamented.

“Just because our kids live in regional Victoria they don’t seem entitled to state of the art learning facilities like their counterparts in the city.

“There is great destination data for students who leave; the school is above state average whether it be for university, TAFE, employment or apprenticeships.

“We wait for the budget every year … it would be fantastic if we got that call.”