Whitehorse Council buys former Nunawading Primary School site for $6m

WHITEHORSE Council has bought the former Nunawading Primary School for $6 million and plans to build a new community hub on the site.

Whitehorse Council has bought the former Nunawading Primary School site from the State Government for $6m. The site has been in a derelict and vandalised condition for years. Annette Mason, Cr Andrew Munroe, Michael Challinger, and Elsie Mutton, visited the site after the purchase announcement. Picture: Steve Tanner

AFTER 18 months of drawn-out negotiations Whitehorse Council has bought the former Nunawading Primary School for $6 million and plans to build a new community hub on the site.

The news came just days after the Leader reported that pressure was mounting on the State Government to sell the Springvale Rd site, with the disused property plagued by vandalism since the school closed in 2009.

RELATED: Pressure mounts for State Government to sell former Nunawading Primary School site to Whitehorse Council

The council agreed terms last week with the Government to buy the site after last July rejecting the Government’s first offer, which was based on its residential redevelopment value and reported to be about $15 million.

Whitehorse Mayor Andrew Munroe said the council hoped to be able to relocate the community services at Silver Grove, Nunawading to the former school site as part of a $28 million development of the Nunawading Community Hub.

Cr Munroe said the hub plans hinged on the council’s draft 2015-16 budget being adopted at a meeting next Monday, June 22.

“The development of the Nunawading Community Hub at this new location will ensure Council’s intention of retaining the community focus of the former Nunawading Primary School site,” Cr Munroe said.

“Council will retain and improve the heritage buildings in the future development.

“In the interim, security of the whole site including the heritage building has been improved to prevent further damage and deterioration.”

“The groups located at Silver Grove have been concerned about the poor quality facilities for some time.

“The purchase of this land by council is one that will benefit our residents and enable the establishment of a well utilised community hub.”

Nunawading Primary School Site Preservation Group president Michael Challinger and fellow members at the former school site which has been vandalised. Picture: Janine Eastgate.

Nunawading Primary School Site Preservation Group president Michael Challinger said he was “delighted and relieved” with the sale.

“The universal consensus was that this needed to happen, but actually getting things done is the difficult part,” Mr Challinger said.

“The price of $6 million is a bargain.”

Education Minister James Merlino said the State Government’s election commitment to put a 12-month moratorium on the sale of the site was repealed in the interests of the council securing the site for community use.

“We know the community wanted clarity on the future of the former Nunawading Primary School site, which is why the Andrews Labor Government worked to ensure a prompt resolution to negotiations with the local Council,” Mr Merlino said.

“I’m sure families throughout Whitehorse will be thrilled that the site has been retained for open space and as a community hub.”

Ringwood state Liberal MP Dee Ryall, who had been pushing in government and in opposition for a discounted price for the site, said she was happy with the outcome.

“I was pleased to enable negotiations at the much reduced cost, a sale price that reflected the value of the site and the heritage building for community use,” Ms Ryall said.

Cr Munroe said the council hoped to finish the new hub within three years and said the community would be consulted about the project.