Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has called on the Minister for Education, Martin Dixon to inform Torquay families on when the promised second Torquay primary school will be built.
In the early hours of this morning, Ms Tierney spoke in the Legislative Council on the increasing pressures of population growth in Torquay and the urgent need for the second primary school.
“At present, Torquay College has approximately 820 students enrolled in grades prep through to six making it, as I understand it, the largest primary school in Victoria.
“Each year, an average of 120 prep students enrol at Torquay College, meaning that in 2013 there will be well over 1,000 grade prep to six students at Torquay College.
“I call on the Minister to inform me and Torquay families on when a new primary school will be built in Torquay to alleviate the pressures already on the Torquay College – and where this primary school will be situated,” Ms Tierney said.
In the 2011/12 Budget the Baillieu Government set aside $5.25 million to purchase land for the new Primary School.
However, the Government’s promise of a stand-alone Secondary College in Torquay by 2013 is currently in tatters because the $8.9 million set aside to purchase land for the school was not even a third of the preferred site’s market value.
“The Coalition’s promise of students at the Secondary School in term one, 2013 is almost beyond the realm of possibility due to the Government’s lack of planning and ignorance of land prices in Torquay,” Ms Tierney said.
“With only $5.25 million set aside for the new Primary School, parents are anxious that the debacle surrounding the Secondary School will also occur with the promised new Primary School.
“The figures of substantial growth in Torquay and high prep grade enrolments suggest the urgent need for another primary school in Torquay.
“The Minister must now be open and honest with the community to avoid the uncertainty and anxiousness currently occurring with the new Secondary School,” Ms Tierney said.