By Luke Voogt
Cost blowouts have delayed and jeopardised major school upgrades across Geelong, according to concerned parents and principals.
Asbestos removal and structural issues had delayed a $7.8 million renovation at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College, school president Juliet Williams told parents in an email.
The unexpected costs caused a shortfall of $300,000 that delayed a renovation of several aged buildings at the school.
The school received the original funding for the project, scheduled for completion in late 2019, in the 2016/2017 Victorian Budget.
“(School) council has asked the government to meet this shortfall, so that the original modest design and classroom space needs can be met,” Ms Williams said.
“The response so far has been to force the school to compromise on plans and cut much-needed facilities, with very little consultation.”
Ms Williams said the government was not to blame for the unexpected costs but had a responsibility to resolve the issue.
The upgrade includes a state-of-the-art library, three laboratories and new classrooms.
A source at Matthew Flinders, who wanted to remain unidentified, said the school had no other funding for the project.
“What (the government is) saying makes no financial sense and there is no consultation with the school,” they said.
“(The renovation) is long overdue. The educational culture here is excellent but the buildings are so shabby it’s ridiculous.”
Asbestos removal and other latent costs had also disrupted a $20.5 million rebuild at Geelong High School, said principal Glenn Davey.
The school would require an additional $3 million to renovate its hall and four other major buildings, Mr Davey said.
But Mr Davey had discussed extra funding with the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) and expected to announce a resolution in coming weeks, he said.
Mr Davey was optimistic the Andrews Government, which provided $8.5 million and $12 million for the rebuild in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 budgets, would provide a solution.
Cost blowouts have also disrupted a $2.4m project at Chilwell Primary School to upgrade facilities and refurbish classrooms in poor condition.
The Indy understands that the VSBA informed the school it would cut parts of the upgrade after estimating it would cost more than double the original figure.
Moriac Primary School also experienced a funding shortfall for its $3.15 million upgrade.
But local MP and Training Minister Gayle Tierney announced an additional $500,000 earlier this year for the school to complete the project.
