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New Geelong school brings community together

Friday, 09 December 2011

Schools have always been community hubs, but the new Western Heights College is set to become the heart of Geelong's west.

Education Minister Martin Dixon will today officially open the first stage of the $26.9 million school, a middle years campus, and joint-use community centre, alongside City of Greater Geelong Mayor John Mitchell and local Members of Parliament Andrew Katos, David Koch and David O'Brien.

"School is all about producing fantastic citizens who will go on and make a big difference to the future of our state," Mr Dixon said.

"What better way to produce community-minded citizens than by incorporating a community centre and senior citizens club on the same site as the school."

The school shares a large building with local community groups, which includes a community centre, senior citizens club, technology training rooms, a health service and shared library, canteen and cafe facilities.

The school itself is at the cutting edge of design, with three learning communities – open plan buildings for each year level where the students can work in general classrooms or specialist areas – along with the community centre. The school also boasts a design, arts and technology centre.

"I've been told the school students might be preparing to challenge the senior citizens to a game of billiards soon – while the students may be enthusiastic, I suspect wisdom and experience might prevail," Mr Dixon said.

"It's these sorts of bonding activities between different parts of the community that are really at the heart of this school."

Cr Mitchell said the new community centre would be a huge boost for the local community.

"This is a great facility and a great outcome for Geelong," Cr Mitchell said.

"We have a great community building thanks to a strong partnership between the City of Greater Geelong and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development."

Along with the community centre, the school shares a number of facilities with the local council including a skate park in the middle of the campus, netball courts and, from next year, a football oval.

Builders are set to begin working on the next stage of the school's building program, which includes facilities for years 10 to 12 and specialist classrooms, and is expected to be completed by the start of 2013.

The school has been recognised with a commendation at the Victorian 2011 Council of Educational Facilities Planners International (CEFPI) awards for outstanding school facilities.

Local Members of Parliament Andrew Katos, David Koch and David O'Brien commended the partnership between the State Government, and the City of Greater Geelong, describing it as model that could be adopted by other communities.

As part of this year's State Budget the Coalition Government announced $208 million in capital works funding and established a $100 million school maintenance fund in addition to annual maintenance funding.

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