By BEN CAMERON
Minister set to announce upgrade…
AN IMPORTANT component for new Pakenham Secondary College students will receive a long overdue upgrade if the Liberal State Government is re-elected on 29 November.
The college will receive $1.8 million to replace the year seven administration centre.
The centre is more than 45 years old.
Education Minister Martin Dixon was due to announce the funding during a visit to the school today (Thursday) where he will meet teachers and students.
“The new facilities will deliver high-quality teaching areas to support teaching and learning for Pakenham Secondary College,” he said.
It’s one of many funding boosts received by schools in the Cardinia Shire in recent years.
The State Government has provided $26.5m for stage one and two of the Officer Secondary School, $15m to complete and open the Officer Specialist School and $7m for Kooweerup Secondary College.
A new Pakenham South West Primary School will be built. It is set to open for the 2017 school year.
It will be located next door to the Henry Road East Children’s Centre.
An education department spokesman said the new primary school could hold anywhere from 450 up to 750 students.
“The additional capacity allows for short to medium term increases in enrolments until demand moderates as community demographics mature and other new schools open in nearby communities,” he said.
Kooweerup Primary School ($21,599) and Kooweerup Secondary College ($3722) have also shared in $74.5m in funding over the past two years, however this was to address building maintenance for buildings “below the acceptable standard”.
This followed an audit in 2012 for “priority maintenance”.
