Re-elected Labor promises long-awaited Greenvale Secondary School

DESPERATE families in Melbourne’s north may finally get their wish following Labor’s re-election pledge to build a long-awaited secondary school.

Education Minister James Merlino, Labor upper house candidate Burhan Yigit and Yuroke state Labor MP Ros Spence.

AFTER decades of campaigning for a public secondary school in Greenvale, desperate families might finally get their wish.

The State Government announced last Wednesday it would fully fund the construction of six new schools in Hume if re-elected, including a long-awaited secondary school at the corner of Barrymore Rd and Glencairn Drive, to be opened in 2022.

PARENTS CONTINUE PUSH FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL IN GREENVALE

PUSH FOR NEW GREENVALE COLLEGE FIRES UP DESPITE REZONE MOVE

GLADSTONE PARK SECONDARY COLLEGE SLAMMED FOR REJECTING STUDENTS

Other schools earmarked for construction under the $850 million investment included Aitken Hill Primary School by 2019, Craigieburn South Secondary School by 2020, Greenvale North West Primary School by 2021, Merrifield West Primary School by 2021 and Kalkallo Common Primary School by 2022.

Greenvale Residents Association Secondary School subcommittee chairman Mark Busuttil said he was “excited, but nervous” about the announcement, given plans to build the school hinged on Labor winning the next state election.

“There’s still a bit of scepticism among us because it has been so long to get to this point,” he said, adding families had been pushing for a secondary school since the 1990s.

“Until I see shovels I won’t believe it’s going to happen because it has been such a long outstanding issue, but when that does start happening there will be absolute jubilation throughout the entire community.

“Should this school be built we will forever be thankful to (Yuroke state Labor MP Ros Spence) for what she’s done.”

ANGER AT GREENVALE RESERVOIR RUBBISH

BROADMEADOWS POLLUTION SO BAD WOMAN DOUBLE GLAZES WINDOWS

BUREAUCRATS ACCIDENTALLY REZONE SCHOOL SITE FOR PARKLAND

Mr Busuttil said a key benefit of building a secondary school in Greenvale would be less traffic congestion on notoriously busy Mickleham and Somerton roads.

“The closest school is about 5km away so families need to either take a car or use public transport,” he said.

“If this school is built then kids can hopefully walk to school and stay off the main roads.”

Yuroke state Liberal candidate Jim Overend said he couldn’t promise to deliver a secondary school in Greenvale if elected, but said he would “continue to fight on behalf of residents”.

@samanthadick00

MORE NEWS

WESTMEADOWS NEIGHBOURS HIT BY STORMWATER FLOODING

CRAIGIEBURN’S NEW AMBULANCE STATION STILL WAITING TO BE BUILT