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$10.8 million for Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School

THE Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School is to get $10.8 million in upgrades, it was announced on Jacksons Hill this morning.

Josh Bull with staff and students at the Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School, Sunbury campus after the $10.8 million announcement. Picture: Rob Leeson
Josh Bull with staff and students at the Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School, Sunbury campus after the $10.8 million announcement. Picture: Rob Leeson

THREE unused bluestone buildings will be turned into classrooms and learning spaces in a $10.8 million investment in the Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School campus in Sunbury.

The announcement, as part of the State Government’s 2018/19 budget, will extend the area of the school, the first new investment in the former Caloola/Victoria University site for more than a decade.

RELATED: $20 million for Macedon Ranges schools

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A number of portables using open space at the Jacksons Hill campus will go, freeing up the school for a major revamp.

School principal Jo Nolan told the Leader this morning that beyond supporting pupils in their learning needs, the injection of money paid respect to the general Jacksons Hill precinct.

“To get these buildings back into meaningful use pays respect for the former residents at Caloola and these particular buildings weren’t even utilised by VU,” she said.

“We are very aware some of the students we are educating and supporting now would have been residents at Caloola in a bygone era.

“Our school is already a symbol of how far we have come.”

The funding was confirmed by state Sunbury state Labor MP Josh Bull on Thursday before emotional staff and parents and follows $4.2 million given to the senior campus at Bullengarook.

School council president Amanda Solarino said they had made concerted attempts at convincing government to invest in expansion for more than five years.

“I have two children at the school which is already a great environment but we have just wanted some space and an ability to expand,” she said.

“It was something I and the whole school community have been passionate to make happen.”

Mr Bull said the school had been experiencing pressures with enrolments.

“We just want to support them in offering the best opportunities for our young people as we possibly can,” he said.

Mr Bull said the transfer of ownership of the three buildings to the school was effectively the first stage of a Jacksons Hill masterplan.

“There has been no new investment in buildings here for 10 years,” he said.

The full adoption of a Jacksons Hill masterplan was expected in by the middle of the year, Mr Bull said.

Ms Nolan said the school would work with education department building specialists on how to best utilise the new learning areas.

One ambition of the school was to have senior VET and VCAL students about to transition to work to be based at the campus with its proximity to business, industry and public transport, she said.

The State Budget will be handed down next Tuesday.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/north-west/108-million-for-sunbury-and-macedon-ranges-specialist-school/news-story/4b336ff00695cb76cf730901a9896965