Anger brewing on selection of new high school site in Brighton

The State Government has been accused of botching the process to select a site for a new high school in Brighton.

Brighton Mayor Tony Foster. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

RATEPAYERS are wearing the effects of a dispute between the State Government and the Brighton Council over a new high school proposal for the municipality, Labor says.

The State Government last month earmarked three possible sites for a new $30 million Brighton High School.

It listed Racecourse Rd, Elderslie Rd and Pontville near the sporting facilities as possible sites but did not include the Jordan River Learning Federation School Farm, a site Mayor Tony Foster believes is too central for a farm school but ideal for a new high school.

Labor education spokesman Josh Willie said the Government had botched the process.

“This project is facing serious delays because of the conflict between the State Government and the Brighton Council on the preferred site,” Mr Willie said. “Council are already working on the basis that the school will be built at the existing school farm site but Jeremy Rockliff says it’s no good and community members are rightly wondering what is going on.”

Labor education spokesman Josh Willie outside the Jordan River Learning Federation School Farm. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Two of the earmarked sites are council-owned and one is privately owned.

Mr Willie questioned whether the Government was planning to compulsorily acquire council land.

“Given one of the preferred sites is privately owned, [Education Minister] Jeremy Rockliff must also come clean and reveal whether the $30 million allocated to the project includes funding for land acquisition. If it doesn’t, is this just another unfunded election promise?” he said.

Three shortlisted sites for the proposed new high school in Brighton. Picture: Education Department

Cr Foster said the council was prepared to buy the school farm site to provide a long-term lease to the department to reduce the relocation cost.

He said the council had approached the Government to engage in roundtable talks “but the Government is going down a different path”.

“I feel at times the Government is not listening to anything we say,” he said. “We’ve got to make a long-term decision and cater for the overall wellbeing of the community. At the end of the day the best thing to do is to work together and that’s not happening.”

Mr Rockliff said the Government’s three proposed sites were shortlisted after “extensive community consultation”.

“Importantly, a second round of consultation is now under way to give the community an opportunity to have a say in the final site, this includes community meetings in Brighton next week,” he said.