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Funds Urgent For Traralgon Secondary Campus: Hall

gippsland mp peter hall has urged to the state government to ensure that funding for rebuilding of the traralgon secondary college continues, or the school will face "eight or nine years" of disruption.

By Peter Hall - 8th October 2004 - Back to News

Mr Hall made a plea in State Parliament this week (Tuesday October 5) for the second and third stages of the works on the school’s east campus to be included in the 2005 and 2006 budgets.

He told the Parliament he was concerned about possible delays in funding.

"It was hoped that the rebuilding program would be undertaken in three stages over three consecutive years to minimise disruption to the programs at the school.

"However, it now appears that due to delays in funding for planning purposes the next stage will not be considered for funding in the 2005 budget. If that pattern continues it is likely that building for the second stage will not commence until at least 2007, and if that pattern continues it could well be 2010 or 2011 before the final stage is completed.

"That is a far from satisfactory situation given the school will have been a construction site for a period of almost eight or nine years."

Mr Hall told Parliament that it had been clearly acknowledged that the whole campus needs rebuilding and said he was pleased that stage one of the rebuilding program was well under way and expected to be completed in March next year.

"It is a small site and having been a teacher there myself I acknowledge its limitations. It accommodates 700 students, so with a major rebuilding program taking place, there is very little recreational space for the students at the school."

Mr Hall believes this makes the need for stages two and three more urgent.

Mr Hall addressed his plea to the Minister for Education Services and told the Parliament the Minister was well aware of the situation, with the School Council president writing to her last year.

"I call on the minister to give the Traralgon school community an assurance that funding for stage 2 will be allocated in the 2005 budget and further that the final stage funding will follow in the next budget of 2006.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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