Brimbank council is calling on the state government to reinstate a four court indoor stadium into the planning for new college facilities at Sunshine College West.
Sunshine College is consolidating its four campuses into two, with a new campus in Lachlan Street, West Sunshine, set to be completed by the end of 2019.
However the state government scaled back its early plan for an indoor stadium at the campus, and councillor John Hedditch said there was a dire need for the decision to be reversed.
“This particular school’s budget has blown out, and the [education] department has made the decision to leave out the sports stadium,” Cr Hedditch said.
“So we have a brand new college being developed here, in a city where the education department has sold four or five school sites, and a community that has over the past 10 years poured $600 million into state coffers from pokies and other sources, but we’re going to cut a sports stadium from a high needs school and a high needs community.
“It is poor, poor policy and planning … I feel like we are being abused.”
The council will ask Treasurer Tim Pallas and Education Minister James Merlino to reinstate a four-court indoor stadium and renewable energy power sources into the new campus plans.
Cr Hedditch said sport was a key part of education for young people, and Brimbank students deserved more, not less.
“Our young people need the best of education and sporting facilities,” he said.
“These are very needy areas that need access to good education, … we know that one of the hooks into education for kids that may become disengaged is sport.
“If education is going to be excellent in our community, then sports facilities beside that education model need to be excellent as well.
“We know that a four-court stadium is viable, and can be used jointly by the community and by the school.”
