Parents at the fast-growing Docklands Primary School are concerned by a government plan to educate 225 students in a nearby shopping centre from term 3.
Enrolments at the three-storey school have already exceeded capacity after opening just two years ago. In response, the Department of Education has announced it will create a second campus and build nine classrooms on the first floor of the largely vacant District Docklands shopping centre, near the grounded Melbourne Star ferris wheel.
Mary Masters and other parents are concerned about the government’s proposal to put students at The District Docklands shopping centre. Credit: Paul Jeffers
But many parents say the proposed second campus is too small, not secure from the public and contains pillars that will obscure students’ views.
Rajesh Naik is concerned about the site’s accessibility for his son, Ishak, who has cerebral palsy. Naik is pushing for the department to rent an additional floor in the shopping centre and provide a separate entry and exit for students.
“For any extracurricular activities, my son would have to go back and forth [from the main campus],” he said. “The security part as well, the general public going back and forth in the shopping centre, I’m concerned about that.”
A Department of Education spokesperson said demand had far exceeded forecasted needs for Docklands Primary School.
“The [second] campus is being designed and delivered in close consultation with the school leadership team, to ensure it delivers the same strong learning outcomes experienced on the main campus,” they said.
The proposed campus as it stands, at The District Docklands shopping centre. Credit: Paul Jeffers
The government is seeking to relieve pressure on enrolments in the inner city by opening campuses in North Melbourne and Fishermans Bend.
Docklands Primary School, which was costed at $58 million, is surrounded by vacant land that is earmarked for development.
Two-year-old Docklands Primary School is bursting at the seams. Credit: Paul Jeffers
It opened in 2021 with 250 students and capacity for 525 primary and 66 kindergarten students. Enrolments are now at about 540, forcing communal learning spaces such as the library and art room to be used as classrooms.
Greens MP for Melbourne Ellen Sandell said Docklands Primary School reached capacity almost as soon as it was built.
“Now the state Labor government wants to cram hundreds of kids into an unsafe, under-sized shopfront because it’s the cheapest solution they can find.”
Another parent, Malika Chawla, said parents had requested seven classrooms in the shopping centre and an extra floor to give students space but were rejected.
She said children should not have to sit behind pillars at school.
“Their education is going to be impacted,” she said. “I don’t want my child to be in that classroom, full stop. If I don’t want that for him, why would I want it for anyone else?
“I know we’re an inner-city school; it’s unique. But they need to build another school or use another building. There are so many buildings available.”
The school is zoned for Docklands, West Melbourne and the CBD.
Docklands’ population has soared over the past few years. The number of people living there increased from 10,437 in 2016 to 15,495 – which includes nearly 4000 families – in 2021, according to the Census.
In 2011, the population was less than 6000.
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