A $15 million education precinct in Footscray remains a key priority should Labor win next month’s state election, a candidates forum has heard.
Williamstown MP Wade Noonan, Greens candidate for Williamstown Simon Crawford and independent candidate for Footscray Catherine Cumming outlined their vision for education at the forum organised by SKY High at the Sun Theatre last Thursday.
Mr Noonan said Labor had been working with Victoria University, Footscray City College, Footscray City Primary School and Maribyrnong Council on plans for an education precinct in Nicholson Street.
“Labor pledged $15 million to bring this education precinct to life and complement the ‘university town’ that Maribyrnong council and Victoria University are pursuing,” he said.
Mr Noonan said the first step would be creating a working group to discuss building sites and educational opportunities, followed by a masterplan process.
Mr Crawford said the Greens were passionate about education in the west but focused on meeting the $420 million maintenance backlog identified by the auditor-general in 2013.
“Essentially we think government schools need to be where they’re most needed, they need to be maintained and the whole process needs to be open, transparent and fair,” he said.
“If SKY High is a priority we will be fighting quite hard for it but we want to make sure the whole process is transparent and fair to everyone.”
Independent candidate and Maribyrnong councillor Catherine Cumming said she welcomed Labor’s $15 million commitment but the community actually wanted a high school in a Yarraville location such as the former Bradmill site.
“It’s nice that the ALP has made this commitment for the precinct in Footscray, but it would be even nicer and future-proofing to look at a high school where the community actually wants it, which is actually in Yarraville.”
The state government, which failed to appear at the forum, argues there are currently enough high school places in the inner-west.
