The Premier John Brumby today announced a $1 million grant to transform grounds surrounding the Maryborough Education Centre, the first facility of its kind in Victoria.
Mr Brumby said the grant would mean vital civil and landscaping works could be undertaken on the Maryborough Education Centre’s 13-hectare site, ensuring its status as a centre for lifelong learning.
“Maryborough Education Centre is giving local young people the best education opportunities possible by encouraging more students to stay in their community to complete their education and training,” Mr Brumby said. "Maryborough Education Centre is giving local young people the best education opportunities possible."
“That’s why our Government is taking action to improve the amenity of this important community education hub by greatly enhancing its outdoor grounds areas so that they better reflect the high-quality education happening indoors.
“Ongoing drought conditions combined with the centre’s undulating hard surface has made it difficult to maintain landscaping around the centre since its opening.
“The $1 million grant will facilitate a new, specialised civil and landscaping project for the Maryborough Education Centre, to be developed to meet the unique needs of the soil and surface structure.”
The Victorian Government has invested $26.5 million to establish the Maryborough Education Centre, a unique centre providing three levels of education on one purpose-built site.
Maryborough Education Centre is a new P-12 school created by the merger of Maryborough Secondary College, Maryborough Primary School, Maryborough East Primary School and Maryborough Specialist School.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike said the Centre was easing the transition for students by combining primary, secondary and special school facilities on a single campus.
“Education is the Brumby Government’s number one priority which is why we are investing in the best resources young Victorians need to have the best learning opportunities,” Ms Pike said.
Member for Ripon, also Agriculture Minister, Joe Helper welcomed the $1 million grant which he said would generate major improvements in the visual amenity of the centre grounds.
“The large agricultural drains which were put in place have not been able to cope because of the tree debris and surface soil being washed down from the higher grounds which has been largely cause by the tough dry conditions,” Mr Helper said.
“The local community was instrumental in bringing this fantastic new facility to fruition and I am delighted that because of this Brumby Government grant the full potential of the Maryborough Education Centre can now be realised.”
The works will go to tender in December.