By Bonny Burrows
Construction is underway at Officer’s Gum Scrub Creek Primary School.
Education Minister James Merlino and Member for Eastern Victoria Region Daniel Mulino visited the school’s Aspect Estate site on Monday to turn the first sod to mark commencement of building works.
Expected to be completed for term one 2018, the $13 million school will accommodate up to 900 students from the Officer and Beaconsfield areas.
Mr Merlino said the school’s surrounding suburbs were booming, with five new families moving into the shire daily, and the project was an investment in infrastructure needed to support increased demand.
“This new school will meet the needs of a growing community and give local parents and families the first-rate facilities they deserve,” Mr Merlino said.
It will include an early learning facility for up to 109 pre-school children, a maternal health centre, consultation rooms, a kindergarten, after hours care, early childhood intervention services and a competition-grade netball gymnasium.
Mr Merlino said these services would also be available for use by community groups after hours.
Along with the State Government’s contribution, Cardinia Shire also contributed $2.3 million to the project.
Mayor Brett Owen said the project signified “a new era of opportunity” for some of the shire’s youngest community members.
“This will provide a seamless transition from maternal health to kindergarten to primary schooling,” councillor Owen said.
Member for Eastern Victoria Region Daniel Mulino said the new primary school would allow a “high quality education system” be matched by high quality learning environment.
Gum Scrub Creek Primary is one of 10 state schools expected to open in 2018.
