In a last-ditch attempt to retain five former school sites for future education and recreation needs, Brimbank council is calling on the state government to make public a business case justifying their sale.
At their meeting last week, councillors voted to write to the Premier, the education and planning ministers, their equivalent opposition members, all local state MPs and the Department of Education’s south-west regional director for education calling for a halt to the sale of former Keilor Park, Calder Rise and Deer Park primary schools, Kealba secondary college and undeveloped school land in Taylors Lakes, which was previously earmarked for a P-12 school.
The Department of Education and Training (DET) has deemed the land surplus to its requirements.
Councillors agreed they wanted the land to remain in public hands for future education, community, sport and recreation needs.
Cr Virginia Tachos said access to sporting facilities was a big issue in Brimbank. “This land would be perfect to address Brimbank’s shortage of land for sporting purposes,” she said.
“Brimbank is located in the heart of Australia’s fastest-growing region. I wonder if the government has considered that.
“Selling off these precious assets is short- sighted. The loss of this land will not hurt immediately but will impact in the medium to long term,” she said.
The government wants to rezone former Kealba Secondary College, Calder Rise and Keilor Park primary schools and the undeveloped P-12 land in Taylors Lakes from public use to general residential, which would allow for unit and townhouse developments.
However, the council wants these sites to be zoned neighbourhood residential.
The DET and council have entered into an agreement to maintain the heritage building and land surrounding it on the former Deer Park primary school site.
The council will request a copy of all reports justifying the sale of these sites, and it wants the reports to be made public.
