By LIA SPENCER
THREE Casey school sites could be used for a range of purposes due to a land rezoning project.
Doveton Secondary College, Doveton North Primary School and Eumemmering Primary School could be three of nine unused school sites across Victoria to be part of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) Surplus Land Rezoning Project.
Councils or interested parties have the opportunity to create new residential developments, or community or health facilities such as medical centres on these sites.
Planning Minister Matthew Guy will establish an independent Ministerial Advisory Committee to consider submissions from DEECD, local councils, residents and other interested parties on the proposed rezoning of nine sites deemed surplus to educational requirements.
Education Minister Martin Dixon said there were hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be saved every year on the maintenance costs Victorians were currently paying on surplus sites– some of which have become a magnet for vandalism and rubbish dumping.
“These nine schools were closed following decisions by the former Labor Government, and have sat idle and open to vandals for years,” Mr Dixon said.
“The Coalition Government is committed to selling these unused sites with proceeds of land sales prioritised towards creating, maintaining and improving public infrastructure, including the provision of education.”
Casey residents voiced their opinions on the Cranbourne Berwick News Facebook page about what the sites should be used for with housing being the most common suggestion.
Residents and other interested parties can have their say on the proposed rezoning at http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/panelsandcommittees/current/deecd-surplus-land-rezoning
Other school sites in the project include Brandon Park Secondary College, Clayton Primary School, Clayton West Primary School, Monash Special Development School, Oakleigh South Primary School; and Bendigo South East College- Golden Square campus.
