By Kerri-Anne Mesner
A SUPER primary school will be created in central Sunshine by 2010 — the first new primary school to be built in the area in 50 years.
The State Government allocated $7 million in its 2008/09 budget for the school to be built at the Sunshine East Primary School site in Duke St.
The project will see Sunvale Primary School (in Neil St, Sunshine) and Braybrook Primary School (on Ballarat Rd) relocate to the Sunshine East site to form the new school.
Sunvale Primary School was officially opened on 9 October 1957, Braybrook was established more than 120 years ago and Sunshine East began operating in mid-September 1951.
One hundred and one million dollars has been allocated to pay for the renewal of 25 schools across the state.
Plans have already been drawn up for the new Sunshine school with the tender process is expected to start this month and construction on the site expected to start by the end of the year, according to Sunshine East Primary School principal Michael West.
“Our predictions are for 450 students with the new school,” Mr West said.
The first stage of the construction will see new buildings established on the vacant part of the Sunshine East school site, with the second stage to demolish the existing deteriorating buildings to make way for new buildings.
Sunshine East students will be the first to move into the new buildings and students from Sunvale and Braybrook schools will move in when the second stage of the project is completed.
Sunshine East has about 180 students, Sunvale has about 170 and Braybrook has about 90.
Member for Footscray Marsha Thomson said she praised Braybrook, Sunvale and Sunshine East schools’ hard work to co-locate on one site.
“This now means that our local kids will have access to the best education in a first class school,” Ms Thomson said.
The State Government announced a $1.9 billion Victorian schools plan, with $592.3 million to rebuilt, renovate or extend 128 schools.
There will be three new primary schools built in the Maribyrnong/Brimbank/Melton eastern corridor area with funds allocated from this budget.
The schools will be built under a public-private partnership deal, with $171.3 million allocated for 11 schools.
The three schools to receive funding were Taylors Hill Primary School, Derrimut Primary School and Kororoit Creek Primary School.
