Wednesday, 4 February 2026

 Natalie HUTCHINS (Sydenham) (09:47): I rise to update the house on the exciting education and infrastructure projects supporting our rapidly growing communities across the Sydenham electorate and the broader north-west. Last Thursday we opened Wiyal Primary School in *Fraser Rise and welcomed 525 new students there from prep to grade 6 in their very first term 1. It is one of 18 new schools that have opened this year, and it also completing Labor’s delivery of 100 new schools since we came to office. Of course this new school includes two new learning hubs, an administrative building, a library and a community hub, the most magnificent indoor multiuse court and many other great facilities. It has been named Wiyal Primary School because it means ‘peppermint tree’ in Woi-wurrung language, and it was chosen through meaningful consultation with traditional owners and the local community. Foundation principal Paris Spencer and the dedicated team have created modern and welcoming spaces that already are full of energy. On the same site there is a new kinder underway, and this will be complete by 2028. These education investments are building upon all of the investment we are making locally, including the upgrading of the Melton Highway and Leakes Road intersection and the Melton Highway infill.