Future uncertain for Northern Bay College’s Hendy campus after fire

Demolition of fire-ravaged buildings at a Corio school campus is set to take months, with no timeline for when all students can return.

The fire significant damage to the Hendy St Northern Bay school campus, with plans for the rebuild still uncertain. Picture: Alison Wynd

Some students have returned to Northern Bay College’s Hendy campus after a fire burned through large parts of the school grounds last week, with demolition of damaged buildings set to take months.

The fire, which a 13-year-old girl was arrested over, forced the Corio campus to temporarily close.

An Education Department spokesman said the campus reopened on Tuesday, but only for students in prep to Year 6.

“Students in Year 7 and 8 will remain at Peacock campus,” he said.

There is still no word on when reconstruction will begin.

The spokesman said the department would work closely with the college on plans to replace the building destroyed in the fire with facilities that best met the school’s needs.

“Demolition of the fire-damaged building at Northern Bay P-12 College’s Hendy Street Campus will start as soon as practicable and is expected to take about 10 weeks,” he said.

“Students and staff have done an amazing job adapting this week, and we thank the school community for its support and understanding.”

It is understood both the start date for demolition, and the timeline for construction of a new building remain undecided, with a rebuild still subject to planning, approvals and agreed scope.

Damage caused by a fire at Northern Bay College Hendy campus. The education department has stated demolition of the damage alone will take 10 weeks, with plans for repair still uncertain. Picture: Alison Wynd

The school council took to social media over the weekend requesting community members not to raise funds or collect donations for the rebuild, following a campaign by a pair of Northern Bay College mums to collect books and school supplies in the wake of the fire that left their children “devastated”.

“Unfortunately events like this don’t just bring out the best in people but also the worst, the school has been made aware of some fundraising that being posted online by individuals and groups some for money and some for goods,” a post attributed to the school council president said.

The post thanked those wanting to help but stated the school council and staff were not running fundraisers or accepting donations, and would provide an opportunity for community assistance at a later time.

“On the top of the risk of scams the school doesn’t have the manpower to sort through donations and doesn’t have the area to store these donations,” it read.

It is understood the price of the build had not yet been revealed.

The public school has five campuses in Geelong’s north, with the Goldsworthy campus home to Year 9 to 12 and the other four, including Hendy and Peacock, hosting preps to Year 8.

A Victoria Police spokesman said officers arrested a 13-year-old girl following the school fire, who was interviewed and released pending summons.

Originally published as Future uncertain for Northern Bay College’s Hendy campus after fire