Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has ramped up the pressure on the Baillieu Government to come good on its promise and fund the Apollo Bay P-12 College redevelopment.
In Parliament last night Ms Tierney called on the Minister for Education, Martin Dixon to commit the full $10 million for the redevelopment in the upcoming State budget due in May.
Ms Tierney said the Member for Polwarth, Terry Mulder’s commitment to fund the College redevelopment by 2013 couldn’t be clearer.
“At the time the commitments were made by both Labor and Liberal, the Colac Herald directly quoted Mr Mulder as saying, ‘I will start at Apollo Bay in 2012 to 2013’.
“It does not get much clearer than that,” Ms Tierney said.
“It is all too well known by the students, teachers and community of Apollo Bay P-12 College that the Coalition Government did not fund the redevelopment in 2012.
“This leaves the 2013 budget for the Baillieu Government to come good on Mr Mulder’s promise.
“It is fair to say that the Apollo Bay community has more than waited their turn on this project.
“I urge the minister to fulfil the election commitment made by the member for Polwarth, Terry Mulder, and commit the promised $10 million for the Apollo Bay P-12 College redevelopment in the 2013 state budget,” Ms Tierney said.
Ms Tierney has raised the issue of the Apollo Bay P-12 College on a number of occasions in Parliament, including in 2012 when the Apollo Bay Community was ignored by the Baillieu Government.
Ms Tierney said that it was absolutely reasonable that the entire community of Apollo Bay was devastated when there was no money in the 2012 budget for the redevelopment.
The Victorian State Budget will be delivered on the 7th of May, 2013.