Hall, but no access

By Melissa Meehan
PAKENHAM Hills Primary School will soon have access to their brand new multi-purpose hall, but principal Dale Hendrick says access to the hall is one of the major problems of the project.
The $3 million multi-purpose hall is part of the Federal Government’s Building Education Revolution (BER) funding, which is now in the hands of the State Government.
Mr Hendrick, speaking on behalf of the Parents and Friends Association at the school, said the hall was built facing the wrong way, and in turn made access to the front door difficult.
“The building is great,” Mr Hendrick said.
“But the only access to the hall is through the school, down a 232-metre uncovered ramp – there is no vehicle access at all.”
Mr Hendrick said the lack of emergency access to the hall was a major fear for all concerned.
“We are worried that if someone is injured or sick in the hall, that the time it takes for an ambulance to park at the school and make their way down the ramp – that it could be fatal,” he said.
“Things like this should have been thought of when plans were drawn up,” he said.
“This is why I believe principals should have the ability to oversee works, instead of the government.”
Mr Hendrick said the school could not afford to create vehicle access to the hall without government funding.
A war of words between the State Government and Opposition has begun over the principal’s claims.
Liberal Bass MP Ken Smith and Shadow Education minister Martin Dixon met with Mr Hendrick on Monday to discuss the school’s issues with the new building.
Mr Smith said he would advocate for vehicle access to the hall.
But the State Government said the project could not go ahead without the principal’s signature on plans, and said Mr Hendrick would have signed off on the building before it was built.
State Government spokesman Chris Owner said project would not be possible if the Coalition was in power. “The project meets the Australian Standards and Building Codes for accessibility and occupational health and safety,” Mr Owner said.
“If Ted Baillieu and the Liberal Party had its way, government schools such as Pakenham Hills Primary would have missed out on the chance to build their new multi-purpose centre.”