South Barwon MP Andrew Katos says he will push for Montpellier Primary School to be funded for a staged rebuild.
Mr Katos was responding to a story in last week’s Independent when opposition leader Daniel Andrews called for a master plan for the school to be prepared.
The school is at capacity but faces more enrolments in the next few years as the area’s population grows on the back of several new housing estates.
Mr Katos said although the school sits in the Geelong electorate of Ian Trezise, it had a significant catchment in South Barwon.
“I am lobbying (education) minister Dixon to see about improving the facilities,” Mr Katos said.
But Mr Katos admitted there was no commitment from the minister “at this time”.
“It is obvious Montpellier needs work but I want to get a stronger commitment than just a master plan.
“I would like to see it go a step further and actually undergo a rebuild.”
Mr Katos said the previous Labor state government had prepared a “lot of master plans and told schools they were next” but with no action taken.
“We were left with 200 schools at the master plan stage but I want needs identified and acted upon, not just drawings on a shelf,” Mr Katos said.
A spokesperson for Mr Dixon said the needs of Montpellier would be considered as part of future budget deliberations.
“The Victorian Government is committed to upgrading government primary and secondary schools across the State.
“The Government must responsibly balance and prioritise the capital needs of over 1500 government schools in Victoria.
“In the past three budgets the Victorian Government has committed more than $600 million to capital works projects in schools across the state.”
