Funding for Docklands Primary School

Funding for Docklands Primary School

Stage one of the new Docklands Primary School has been funded in this month’s state budget.

The government has announced $18.8 million for the school but it is not known how much of the school is funded, when construction will start or when the school will open.

Following the government’s funding announcement, Docklands News on April 26 asked these questions of the Education Department but had not received answers by the time we went to press on May 1.

The government has allocated $353.2 million to build and plan for 28 new schools.

The Budget includes $3.8 million to start detailed master planning on the new Fishermans Bend Secondary School and $2.15 million to plan for the new North Melbourne Hill Primary School.

It says inner city families have peace of mind that they will be able to access a great local school, close to home.

Docklands resident Janine Standfield, who campaigned with others for the primary school, said she was delighted with the funding announcement.

“It’s fabulous news for the Docklands community,” she said. “Docklands is going to be such an improved place in five or six years.”

The Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Jenny Mikakos, said: “We are seeing more families moving into the inner city and it’s important that they have access to a great local school.”

But Greens local member Ellen Sandell, while welcoming the funding announcement, called on the government to also build a high school in Docklands.

“The Docklands Primary School is a win for our community who have fought so hard for so long, but we also need more local high schools for our kids,” Ms Sandell said.

“This is great news – but our kids education doesn’t stop at grade six. We need more local high schools for our kids to attend. This Labor government must commit to building a high school for the Docklands community, rather than pushing them to already over-full schools in other suburbs.”

“This goes to show that we can win when our community stands up together and when we have Greens MP in Parliament. I will continue working with the community to make a Docklands high school a reality.”

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