Wednesday, 4 February 2026

 Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (09:47): We are stepping into 2026 with plenty of enthusiasm and optimism about what is to come, particularly in the Southern Metropolitan Region. In education we eagerly anticipate that the new teaching buildings at Glen Eira College will soon be completed, allowing for an additional 250 local students to attend the school. Works are about to get underway at Hampton, Caulfield South and Gardenvale primary schools, where builders have just been appointed to provide new classrooms and new gymnasiums. Demolitions are underway of old blocks F, G and H at Sandy college to allow for new landscaping to improve the grounds and also provide for future needs. We have got a new primary school just opened in Fishermans Bend, one of 100 new schools that Labor have built since 2019. In the Sandringham harbour the brand new Hampton Pier is open and welcoming visitors to enjoy summer. There are a range of on-water activities like kayaking and paddleboarding. In Hampton East and Port Melbourne the new social housing sites are powering ahead, scheduled for completion this year, with an uplift of 16 per cent on Bluff Road and 43 per cent in social housing at the Barak Beacon site. Rail passengers on the Frankston line are already going back through the city loop, and those on the Cranbourne–Pakenham line are taking advantage of the Metro Tunnel. Public transport is free for kids under the age of 18 every day of the week and for seniors on the weekend. There are upgrades to sporting facilities at Peterson Street Reserve. I am running out of time. There is so much going on this year in the Southern Metropolitan Region. It is going to be a great year.