Mickleham Primary School parents anger over delayed building works

Parents at a school in Melbourne’s north west are furious over constant delays in the completion of much-needed building works and traffic issues.

Stephanie McCaw, Matt Goodman and Kimberley Duncan outside Mickleham Primary School. Picture: Supplied

A primary school in Melbourne’s north west has been described as “ghost town” as frustration rises over repeated delays in a long-sought after revamp

Mickleham Primary School is slated to get two learning centres and an administration building as well as a hardcourt, restored oval and landscaping, with

The Victorian School Building Authority website saying the two learning centres and administration building were due by term one with the hard court and landscaping due by “early 2023”.

With weeks remaining in term one, frustrated parents are seeking answers about when the buildings will be completed.

They say the delays are having a major impact on their children’s mental health, and with the prestigious Hume Anglican nearby and the new Gaayip-Yagila Primary School already expanding, there is a feeling Mickleham Primary School is being left behind.

“It’s like a ghost town school at the moment so there is such a huge impact on their mental health and that’s the bigger issue for us at the moment,” parent Kimberley Duncan said.

“We were told that (the new facilities) were going to be ready by the new school year and everyone was very, very excited and then it was maybe some time in term one and now everyone in the parent community is exhausted.

“We’re at the end of our tether with the continued delays and we can see how disappointed our kids are … how deflated by the experience that they’re having.”

The Education Department labelled the works “ongoing” with no timeline given for when the facilities are expected to be completed.

“Building works at Mickleham Primary School are ongoing, with the completion of nearby water mains and sewerage works underway,” the department said in a statement.

“Builders will return onsite to complete works as soon as these other off-site works are finished.”

The construction works have also made school drop-off and pick-up “very difficult” for parents.

A letter from the school to parents, seen by Leader, advised a “number of changes on the roads around the school” which should be “much safer” than the previous set-up.

Mickleham Primary School is under development to improve the school. Picture: Supplied

These include having traffic management staff and traffic lights as well as two lanes to help manage the school’s peak-hour traffic.

Staff are carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles at the school while parents were asked to avoid picking up their children early or dropping them off late or look at carpooling if possible.

“Our children, parents and staff have been nothing short of incredible — with the resilience and adaptability they have shown with every new stage,” the letter reads.

“Every day, we creep one day closer to our new buildings and our welcoming environment … hang in there with us for just a little longer.”

Works on the intersection works began in early March and are expected to be finished later this year with traffic lights being installed and the road widened to accommodate turning vehicles.

Parents from the school say they’ve become frustrated by the traffic congestion.

“Trying to get the kids to school every day is proving very difficult and it doesn’t just end when you pick them up they’re complaining all night about not wanting to go the next day,” parent Stephanie McCaw said.

“The frustration has turned to anger now and enough is enough, someone has to be accountable.”

Kimberley Duncan added: “Our school has historically had issues accessing funding for upgrades and resources in general, it’s like we’re constantly fighting for things other schools are simply given.”