Liberal plans for public private cricket academy at Beaumaris campus

THE Liberals have promised a public private sporting academy partnership for the Beaumaris campus of Sandringham College if they win next month’s state election.

Beaumaris community are running a campaign to get a stand-alone public secondary college built on what is now the shabby, run-down Beaumaris campus of Sandringham College.

THE LIBERALS have promised a public private sporting academy partnership for the Beaumaris campus of Sandringham College if they win next month’s state election.

During a tour of the college’s ageing Reserve Rd campus yesterday, Premier Denis Napthine announced $13 million would be spent by the government on the school’s three sites.

The Bayside Leader revealed the college’s plan for sport and science academies last year.

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Dr Napthine said $7 million has been earmarked for the Beaumaris campus redevelopment that included a “multi-million dollar’’ co-investment by the MCC Foundation.

Another $6 million will be spent across three campuses on new classrooms and other facilities.

This is on top of $6 million that has been previously announced and is already being spent.

The Liberals would not say how much was also being contributed by the foundation to the cricketing project.

MCC president Paul Sheahan said under the deal part of the Beaumaris campus would be turned into a “world-class’’ cricket and sports centre, which could be used by the community and local clubs as well as MCC players.

Labor has pledged to build a stand-alone school on the Reserve Rd campus if they win the election, saying the community needed a separate Beaumaris high school.

Last week they pledged $6 million towards upgrading facilities at all three campuses.

But the Coalition will still not build a stand-alone school at the Beaumaris site.

They have consistently ruled it out, saying surveys and reports showed there was no need for a separate high school in Beaumaris.