Tuesday, 4 February 2025

 Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (18:03): (1352) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Deputy Premier in his capacity as the Minister for Education, and the action that I seek is an update on the new schools being delivered by the government and others in the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region and how these new schools are benefiting local families. The south-east is one of the fastest growing parts of our state – nay, our nation – and areas like Clyde North are home to rapidly expanding communities that require increased services and infrastructure investment to deliver what they need. This year three brand new modern schools have opened their doors for term 1. This includes Mirniyan Primary School and Turrun Primary School, which will each provide hundreds of prep through to grade 6 places.

Wulerrp Secondary College also opened for their year 7 cohort this year, with ongoing works on the STEAM building. Following some advocacy from Mr Tarlamis and me to Casey council, I am also particularly pleased to report that the much-awaited Bells Road extension was completed in time by council, in partnership with local developers, ahead of that school’s opening. It was a critical concern for that new school’s community that they would be able to have safe and proper access to the school, not just from the old Soldiers Road at its back, which was well past its use-by date and well and truly not fit to handle the vast amounts of students that will now be using this wonderful new school. I very much appreciate the local community in Clyde North for reaching out to Mr Tarlamis and me and letting us know about the dire need for Bells Road to be completed. That helped us to have those discussions with council, which got that road delivered in time for term 1 this year.

Wulerrp is going to be a fantastic school, and I am very excited to see how that school continues to grow and build over the coming years. Out of the six new government schools that have opened this year, that includes three in Clyde North, and that continues to demonstrate this government’s commitment to supporting the educational outcomes of young people in Melbourne’s south-east. In addition, St Josephine Bakhita Catholic Primary School is opening its doors for the 2025 school year. This school also received some funding of $5 million from the state government for its stage 1, with stage 2 expected to commence this year with funding from the Allan Labor government.

The action that I am seeking from the education minister is an update on these new schools which are being delivered in the South-Eastern Metropolitan Region in the suburb of Clyde North and the impact that will have on families in my constituency.