No school in sight

*This article was published 10 years ago.

Docklands is no closer to getting a school of its own after South Melbourne was last month announced as the preferred site for a new government school.

The site of the new school, at 129-161 Ferrars St, is just over 3km from Docklands, which means it could be an option for Docklands families. However, they may not be welcome.

“Depending on enrolment numbers, students in the Docklands area may be accommodated,” a spokesperson for Education Minister Martin Dixon said.

The spokesperson said it was too early in the design and development stage to confirm enrolment boundaries for the South Melbourne school.

Meanwhile, Docklands parents continue to consider various education options outside of Docklands.

Jewel Love has lived in Docklands with her husband and three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Ananda for the past year-and-ahalf (pictured above).

The family has started thinking about options for Ananda’s education, but choices are limited. Ms Love said the closest schools would still require driving through plenty of traffic.

“I imagine families will stop moving here if there are no options for schooling,” Ms Love said.

Mytreyi Tanikella, mother of three-year-old twin boys, Kameswara and Karitikeya, said the lack of a local school in Docklands would cause her family to move.

Martin Dixon’s spokesperson said student growth in Port Melbourne and South Melbourne was further advanced than in Docklands.

However, the report identifies Docklands and Southbank as areas set for significant population growth. The report says that in 2011 there were 285 children aged between five and 12 recorded in Docklands and Southbank.

By 2031 this number is expected to grow to 2250.

Considering the expected growth in the school-age population, the community continues to advocate for a school in Docklands.

“We’d like to think that the idea of a school in Docklands is being pursued because of the growing population,”

Docklands Community Association president Roger Gardner said. •