Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing (2nd from right) met at Drouin Primary School last Thursday with, from left, assistant principal Deb Fusinato, literary specialist Jane Gray and principal Brad Wheller to inform them of a $22.1 investment at the school in new classrooms and a gymnasium/basketball stadium.
New classrooms and a competition grade basketball stadium and gymnasium will be built at Drouin Primary School at a projected cost of almost $22.1 million.
Upper House Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing met senior school staff at Drouin last Thursday to make the announcement contained in the State budget introduced to parliament that day.
Principal Brad Wheller described the new works as “sensational news” for the school whose enrolments grow year on year.
Enrolments have increased from about 200 in 2013 to 600 today and are expected to continue to grow at a rate of about 50 each year.
Ms Shing said the new facilities would increase the capacity at Drouin primary to 825 students.
However, she was unable to say when they might be ready for use.
The allocation of funds in the budget would enable the School Building Authority to quickly progress with plans and designs and to then engage an architect, she said.
Construction work would be timed to minimise disruption to the normal operation of the school with work arranged around holidays and other breaks.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Danny Goss applauded the upgrade of the Drouin school and Opposition Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood said it was a major positive in the budget recognising the town’s booming population.
