By Benjamin Millar
A new three-storey building will be built at Gilmore College for Girls and Footscray City College will be upgraded with a new science, technology, engineering and maths block after a state government promise of $20.2 million for the next stage of the Footscray Learning Precinct.
The funding comes on top of more than $50 million already allocated to design the new precinct, purchase land and build the new Seddon Junior Secondary Campus.
Education minister James Merlino visited Gilmore College for Girls on Tuesday to announce the cash boost and turn the first sod to officially start construction.
The all-girls school will become a co-educational junior campus from 2020 and Footscray City College will become a senior campus for years 10-12.
This new Seddon Junior Secondary Campus is due to open in 2021.
One lead principal will be appointed to oversee the entire precinct, with campus principals also based at each site.
Footscray City Primary School will be redeveloped to increase capacity and a new early learning centre and a new hall and gymnasium will be built on the site.
Footscray MP Marsha Thomson said the entire precinct will be “an iconic project” and the first of its kind, drawing together every stage of education from early learning to university.
“This will deliver education in a whole new way,” she said.
“This is about becoming a centre for educational excellence.”
Melissa Horne, president of lobby group SKY High and Labor’s state candidate for the seat of Williamstown, welcomed the funding promise.
“Today’s commitment for an additional $20.2 million, on top of the $50 million already allocated for the Footscray Learning Precinct, means that the high school places that the SKY community has lobbied hard for, over many years, will be up and running in time for children in Grade 5 to go to the new precinct in 2020,” she said.
