Students at Warrnambool Special Developmental School are getting an early Christmas present this year with the Andrews Labor Government announcing $14.6 million to build a brand new school.
Prior to the 2014 election, the Victorian Labor Party made an election commitment to provide $5 million to relocate the school to a new site given the condition and functionality of the existing facilities.
This $5 million funding was used to buy land for the new school and conduct planning work.
This latest funding goes one step further and will ensure the school is completely re-built on the new site. This brings the total funding from the Labor Government for the Warrnambool Special School to $19.6 million
Warrnambool Special Developmental School, which caters for children aged between 5-18 years, is the only special education facility within the City of Warrnambool and has experienced a period of sustained growth since it opened.
The challenges of operating the school on its current constrained and overcrowded site would be further exacerbated by its forecasted long term growth in enrolment.
The school recently took possession of a new relocatable building containing two classrooms, which will be ready for use on day 1 of Term 1, 2018.
The new school will be built while the current school continues business as usual, to ensure there is no disruption for staff and students.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“I have visited this school on multiple occasions and I know the challenges they face. For too long Warrnambool Special Developmental School has been bursting at the seams, and I am proud that we have delivered on this important promise.”
“Unlike the Liberal Party we will not ignore the South-West. I have always said we would finish what we started and I am very happy to be making this announcement today.”
Quote attributable to the Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney
“We have fought long and hard for this funding and I’m so pleased that now have the money for the school this community deserves.”
“There has been a lot of talk from the Liberal Party on this project over the years, both in Government and in opposition, but it was the Labor Government that delivered.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020