To ask the Minister for Higher Education and Skills (for the Minister for Education): In relation to the sale of 44 Regent Street, Belmont, and the need for extra recreational space for the students of Belmont Primary School, will the minister give a commitment to the community of Belmont, and the students and families of Belmont Primary School, to seriously consider the option of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development purchasing this land to create the much-needed extra recreational area for the primary school.
ANSWER:
I am informed as follows:
The Victorian coalition government is committed to upgrading government primary and secondary schools across the state.
The government must responsibly balance and prioritise the capital needs of over 1500 government schools across the state.
Since the 2011-12 Victorian budget this government has committed $56 million towards land acquisition for schools in population growth areas.
The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Plan for Education identifies a number of priority capital works projects to be funded and commenced in the first term of government. Additional schools identified for capital funding are announced in the Victorian budget.