Tuesday, 20 September 2022

Education funding

Mr McGHIE (Melton) (12:55): As the last opportunity for a members statement for this term, I have been reflecting on the massive investments, particularly in education, in the Melton electorate. Exford Primary School received a massive $25.3 million for upgrades. This was in addition to an earlier commitment of $6 million and further funding to finally connect the school to a water and sewerage supply. I have been at the opening of the new primary school in Eynesbury and the new Strathtulloh Primary School near Cobblebank, and in time for the next school year we will open another new primary school in Thornhill Park. Funding has been included for land at Cobblebank for a secondary school, and there is funding for acquiring land in the Weir Views area for the new Toolern Waters primary school, $10.68 million to upgrade and modernise existing facilities at Darley Primary School, and a massive $31.77 million to rebuild Staughton College in Melton South. Also we have provided in excess of $9 million for Melton Specialist School. We have invested in funding for a new campus for Catholic Regional College and a new Catholic primary school opening in Weir Views. I opened the new gym and hall at St Anthony’s in Melton South. Melton Christian College is well underway in building their new Toolern Vale campus with the help of the Andrews Labor government. I have been warmly welcomed at Al Iman College, opening new facilities there too. I have seen new upgrades like the new gym at Melton West Primary and the new shared use facility at Kurunjang Primary School, and I am looking forward to kicking a footy at the massive new build of the oval at Melton Secondary College and seeing the lights go up and shining on the great students. We have also provided early learning centres right across the electorate and also a business case for TAFE. To cap that all off, we have also put in over $900 million to build a brand new 274-bed hospital.