Home stretch for college works

Monbulk College principal Margaret Uren. 208983 Pictures: ROMY STEPHENS

By Romy Stephens

Over $8 million in funding is set to go towards further infrastructure upgrades at Monbulk College.

Education Minister and Monbulk MP James Merlino announced on 18 May that Monbulk College will receive $8.42 million to go towards the final major stage of the school’s masterplan.

The school had already completed its first two masterplan stages which included an upgraded library, administration buildings and a Year 7 centre.

The final stage of the masterplan will create a new STEAM, trade and home economics building as well as a Year 8 centre.

Monbulk College principal Margaret Uren said the school has been focusing on developing STEAM, arts and technology recently and that the new buildings would “generate even more success” for students.

“The staff have been really keen to get that last part of the upgrade,” she said.

“It just makes such a big difference having the different facilities.”

The school upgrades are part of the State Government’s 2018 election commitment and its Building Works package.

The package is set to deliver $2.7 billion in shovel-ready projects and get thousands of people that have lost their jobs due to Covid-19, back to work.

Mr Merlino said the project at Monbulk College would not only help the local community, but also the entire state.

“We know how critical education will be to our state’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, and that’s why we’re investing in the future of our students across early childhood, schools and TAFE,” he said.

“We’re investing record funding in education so all people in Monbulk, regardless of their background or circumstances, get a world-class education.

“The project at Monbulk College is yet another great example of the school building boom that is happening right across Victoria.”

The new upgrades for Monbulk College are expected to start by late this year.