Call for cash from site sale

Andrew Mathieson
State Government should plough a multi-million-dollar windfall from the likely sale of a Corio school site back into education in the area, the school’s council has demanded.
But Member for Lara John Eren said plans for the Rosewall Primary School site were “too far down the track” to rule out a sale to developers.
The Independent revealed last month that the school would close after enrolments dropped to 58 students this year. The principal said Rosewall would “merge” with nearby Corio Primary School.
Rosewall school council president Chris Hanlon feared the Government would reap the proceeds of a site sale, “not us in the community”.
“They should have to tell us where are they’re going to spend it,” he said.
“Whether or not they’re going to move some of (the proceeds) into a combined Corio/Rosewall school, which would be ideal for more resources and help for education, in the real world that’s not going to happen.”
Mr Hanlon said the school council would prefer “something that would benefit the community” on the Rosewall site.
“But that will be out of our hands once the school closes,” he said.
“We can be good citizens and keep an eye out on it but we won’t have any say about what goes on.”
North Geelong Real Estate’s Joe Grgic said the school’s 1.2-hectare site, about 30,000 squared metres, could be worth around $4.5 million on existing land values.
“That’s probably what a developer’s end-value would be in terms of what he would sell it for,” he said.
“They could potentially turn it into 50 to 70-odd lots that could be sub-divided.”
Mr Eren said the Government would explore options for the school but that he believed the decision should remain with the community.
Mr Eren said he would prefer to “keep an arm’s length distance” from the final decision.
“As the State Government, we’re very careful and conscientious about such land,” he said.
“There’ll always be a due process and the community’s interest will always come first whenever those decisions are made.
“As the local member, I will watch it very closely in terms of what the future prospects are for that site.”