Brimbank council is continuing to push for interim community use of the land of the former Sunshine College campuses in Sunshine and Sunshine West.
At a council meeting on Tuesday, May 16, councillor Thomas O’Reilly raised a notice of motion calling for council to write to Education Minister Natalie Hutchins requesting an update on the land use.
The multi-campus secondary school Sunshine College recently received upgrades at the north and west campuses where a new STEM facility was built at the north campus, while the west campus was rebuilt.
Cr O’Reilly said that the recent works consolidated the secondary school from four to two campuses, with the former Ardeer campus, previously known as Ardeer High School, and the former senior campu,s previously known as Sunshine Technical School, having remained vacant since 2020.
“It was proposed the open space at the school site would become available for use by the adjacent Sunshine Primary School as well as community recreational use outside school hours until the site was to be activated for future education use,” Cr O’Reilly said.
“The buildings on the former Ardeer campus have been demolished, during which time there were a number of fires that destroyed the buildings which caused community concerns.”
In 2021 two buildings on the former senior campus, the Sunshine Girls Technical School and the Sunshine Technical School boys wing were saved from demolition and were included in the Victorian Heritage Register with the support of community advocacy.
Cr O’Reilly said the purpose of the notice of motion was to initiate an update on the land at the former college sites, and advocate that they be returned for interim community use.
A copy of the written letter to Ms Hutchins will also be provided to Laverton MP Sarah Connolly.
Hannah Hammoud
