By Tate Papworth
People power has prevailed.
The Labor government has committed further funding to ensure Sunshine College gets the full redevelopment it planned.
As previously reported by
Star Weekly, the school’s plans to consolidate its four campuses to two and build purpose-built classrooms at its Lachlan Street campus hit a hurdle after asbestos was found on site.
About $5.5 million of the allocated $28 million for the project was redirected to clean-up, meaning much of the school’s plans were put on hold.
The government declined to commit further funding to the school, but months of community campaigning came to a head last week.
If re-elected, the government will invest $12.75 million for the next stage of the college upgrade which includes previously deferred works.
This stage will include a performing arts centre, gymnasium, year 7-8 learning building, carparks, further demolition works and other upgrades.
Earlier this month, Labor candidate for the seat of Footscray Katie Hall said she was confident the school would be delivered as promised.
“This should be an exciting project for students in Sunshine and I want us to be in a position to return to that excitement and optimism,” she said.
Sunshine College school council member Vin Ryan said it was a victory for the community.
“We’re absolutely stoked with the news,” he said.
“This was a really big effort from everybody involved, particularly Katie Hall and [Greens MP] Huong Truong.
“Community effort was such an important factor here – a lot of people worked tirelessly for this result.
“At the start of year we decided to scrimp on a few things like the carpark and landscaping, but we’re not going to have to do that anymore.”
It is hoped that the upgrades will be complete for the start of the 2020 school year.
