Last week I attended a number of discussions in the two fastest growing areas in the electorate of Western Victoria Region, those being the Surf Coast and Wyndham. As most members are aware, significant growth brings significant demands, but education for our young cannot be the sacrificial lamb when it comes to growth. My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Education.
In December last year Surf Coast Shire Council finalised its data on population forecasts. It showed that there would be an 8 per cent increase in the number of primary school-age children in the Torquay and Torquay North areas. Currently about 400 babies are born every year in just those areas. That is essentially equivalent every year to the number in a primary school. There is of course expected additional growth on top of that.
Further east, in Wyndham, we have enormous population growth. Wyndham is the fastest growing local government area in Victoria, and the population is expected to reach 158 200 by June. Over the past year there have been 10 new households per week in Wyndham Vale. Now the situation is that there is an enormous growth in the number of primary school-aged children.
I seek from the minister a written explanation of this government’s commitment to the provision of a primary school at Torquay North and also what the government’s commitment is to a primary school in Wyndham Vale, the cost of each commitment and the time by which each of those schools will be built so that the families in these areas can plan for their children’s future.