By Tate Papworth
Sunshine College won’t be getting the revamped school it was promised, the state government has confirmed.
A large chunk of $28 million funding for the college will be spent cleaning up asbestos found on site.
The school had planned to consolidate its four campuses to two and build purpose-built classrooms at its Lachland Street campus.
But asbestos removal will use up about $5.5 million of the budget.
The government has refused to provide additional funds.
According to the state government, construction of three buildings at the west campus – the performing arts centre, the gym and the years 7-8 learning building – has been deferred.
Sunshine College school council member Vin Ryan said the latest development had left “everyone flat”.
He believed the clean-up costs would exceed the predicted $5.5 million.
“The minister has advised the school that the cost of removing asbestos will be $5.5 to $5.8 million, however the reality is that more money will have to be put aside to prepare the site,” Mr Ryan said.
“There is a very likely possibility that rocks will need to be removed from the site and that the contractors will be seeking compensation for the delays.
“What’s been really disappointing is that the Minister for Education James Merlino has been avoiding our questions.”
Greens MP for Western Metropolitan Melbourne, Huong Truong, demanded answers about the college’s funding shortfall in Parliament last week.
She questioned why the government had not used the 2018-19 Victorian School Asbestos Program to pay for the asbestos removal.
Star Weekly contacted Mr Merlino for comment and was referred to a department spokeswoman.
“We are aware that schools such as Sunshine College would benefit from additional facilities however, we must continue to balance the needs of more than 1500 Victorian schools when making decisions,” she said.
