By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
IS IT new funding or not?
That’s the question that has voters scratching their heads after the State Government claimed it had allocated an extra $8 million for local schools.
A spokesperson for the Education Minister told the Independent the funding was in the budget but “unallocated” and therefore constituted previously unannounced funding.
But Liberal South Barwon MP Andrew Katos quickly condemned the announcement.
Mr Katos this week went on the attack in Parliament over the issue, saying the government had neglected the South Barwon school community.
“The Andrews Labor Government has broken its promise with regard to Armstrong Creek West Primary School, with no funding allocated to buy land or build the school in the 2015/2016 state budget.
“The Napthine Government delivered for the Torquay community with the 2014 opening of the $37.5 million Surf Coast Secondary College for 900 students, fulfilling our commitment to have full secondary education in Torquay.”
Mr Katos also raised concern over the delay by the Andrews Government to open the Torquay North Primary School.
“The school was scheduled to have been operational at the start of 2017 but as yet not a sod has been turned,” Mr Katos said.
“The government is now saying that the school will be operational in term one of 2018.
“This is unacceptable as it places further pressure on Torquay P6 College with over 1025 pupils and Bellbrae Primary School with over 425 pupils.”
Mr Katos said the Napthine Government acquired land and made a budget allocation to construct primary schools at Torquay North, Armstrong Creek and to build the Armstrong Creek Special School.
“These three schools were fully funded in the 2014/2015 Victorian state budget along with land purchased for a future new secondary college in Armstrong Creek east.
“Upgrades to Montpellier Primary School, $4.8 million, Barwon Heads Primary School, $3.4 million, and Roslyn Primary School, $2.2 million, were also all funded in the 2014/2015 Victorian budget.”
Mr Katos advised that work was about to commence at Montpellier Primary School with $4.8 million from the former Napthine Government for classroom upgrades.
“Montpellier Primary School was in the former Geelong electorate and over 11 years was neglected by the Labor Government,” he said.
“The Napthine Coalition also made election commitments of $3.96 million capital funding commitment to upgrade Bellaire Primary School, $6.4 million upgrade for Grovedale Secondary College, $1.135 million to Highton Primary School and $6.3 million to Belmont High School.”
