Melba College scores $17.5m in State Budget for rebuild

YEARS of planning have finally paid off for a high school in Melbourne’s outer east, which will be given $17.5m in the State Budget.

Croydon's Melba College senior campus is undergoing a rebuild thanks to a government grant. Year 9 students Jessica Scott and Nathan Dugdale with school council president Philippa Rowlands and principal Terry Bennett reviewing the artists impressions and drawings of the proposed new school buildings. Picture: Steve Tanner

AFTER many false starts and disappointments, Melba College in Croydon has scored $17.5 million to start rebuilding its old and rundown facilities.

The money will be announced in the 2016/17 State Budget, after eight years of hard work from the school.

Plans for the separate junior and senior learning buildings, a new library, canteen and administration area have already been drafted, with work expected to kick off this year and finished within 18 months.

Melba College council president Philippa Rowlands hailed the news as a win for students in the outer east, saying it “had been a long time coming” with some disappointment along the way.

“We have worked for a long time to make this possible and have taken many leaps of faith at the school,” Ms Rowlands said.

“This will let the kids feel like they’re valued and be proud of their school, and they won’t have that uncertainty anymore.”

Croydon Secondary College and Maroondah Secondary College were merged to create Melba College about four years ago.

Plans for the new buildings focus on flexible learning spaces with good access to technology.

The school is also seeking funding for stage two, which includes a new science and technology building, gym and hockey field.

Labor previously committed $19.5 million to the Maroondah Education Precinct, which includes $10 million in the 2015-16 State Budget for Melba College, Norwood Secondary College, Mullum Primary School and Ringwood Secondary College.

Education Minister James Merlino said the money had been allocated in the 2016/17 State Budget, which was “all part of making Victoria the education state”.