Residents push for Vic private schools to be open for community use

Residents are pushing for expansive private school grounds to be available for locals to use, opening up billions of dollars worth of valuable parks, ovals and playing fields.

Kew’s Bryan Gracey is fighting for neighbours to retain access to the Genazzano College school grounds. Picture: Supplied

Victorian residents are calling for lush, expansive private school grounds to be available for community use, opening up billions of dollars worth of valuable parks, ovals and playing fields.

An Infrastructure Victoria report has recommended the state government provide incentives for government schools to open 450ha of Melbourne sporting fields and ovals outside school hours.

A number of residents groups and individuals argue private schools, which are partly funded by state and commonwealth taxpayers, should also be opened up after hours for locals to access.

Kew resident Bryan Gracey, who has been fighting to retain access to Genazzano College grounds over his back fence, said many people “would love this idea to extend to private schools”.

“Schools are part of the community that they exist in so it’s logical for them to extend the use of their ovals and grounds to nearby residents,” he said.

The view from Mr Gracey’s backyard is now obscured. Picture: Supplied

For decades residents living on the school’s western and northern boundaries have been able to walk through and use the oval after hours, but the school recently started erecting a fence to block them.

Another private school engaged in a battle over access to its grounds is Alphington Grammar, which was forced to remove a gate blocking the access of locals to Darebin Creek at the rear of the campus.

St Kilda resident Selina Ife, whose two children attend St Kilda Primary School, said she supported private school facilities being available for community use.

“My children play some basketball games at private and public schools in the area. Any additional access to sports facilities would be welcomed,” Ms Ife said.

Earlier this year, St Kilda Primary School parents urged the state government to build an indoor sports and community hub, saying 430 students had no spaces for indoor PE or extra-curricular activities.

“It wouldn’t solve our current problem at St Kilda Primary School, but it would be positive for the community,” Ms Ife said.

St Kilda Primary School students are desperate for more indoor sporting facilities. Picture: Wayne Taylor

But not all agree private schools should be accessible to members of the public. Paul Dipnall, chair of the Boroondara Residents’ Action Group, said it was an “obscene” suggestion.

“Private school parents pay for the upkeep of grounds so why should members of the public be able to troop through?” he said.

“This is in line with the socialist policies of Spring St.”

Simon Johnson, who runs the South East Community Forum, also said he did not support the idea.

“I see several instances of crime occurring night after night in the community, so why should a private school be forced to give up the rights to their property,” Mr Johnson said.

It comes as Victoria is home to some of the most elite and prestigious private schools in the nation.

Haileybury, which has extensive grounds at its Keysborough campus, has grounds valued at $70m and another $200m in buildings and facilities including a 25m swimming pool, gym, all-weather pitches and indoor courts for squash, netball, table tennis and other sports.

The school receives $35m in federal and state funding a year.

Scotch College, located on 67 acres on the banks of the Yarra River in Hawthorn, has grounds and facilities estimated to be worth $217m. Facilities include numerous ovals, soccer and rugby fields, tennis courts, gymnasiums, and indoor pool and squash courts. The school receives $7m a year in public funding.

It’s understood the notion of opening up school grounds would be viewed as problematic by many private schools, who are concerned about the security of classrooms and buildings, the use of toilets and the additional cost of maintenance, among other issues.

Originally published as Residents push for Vic private schools to be open for community use