Wednesday, 16 September, 2020
Pakenham
/PakenhamBerwickGazette
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Helping little Tanner get his big wish
A buyer for former Holden proving ground
Reservoir plan labelled a ‘dam’ shame
Celebration of 70 years together
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School shutout Frustrated parents are urging the Education Department to rezone the “ridiculous” boundary around Pakenham’s new secondary college, after families, who deliberately bought property near the site, were rejected. Edenbrook Secondary College on Caversham Drive, which will open in 2021, has been a long time coming, with many excited about the new state-of-the-art government school. But a number of prospective parents were recently rejected from enrolling their children due to their homes falling just outside the school’s bizarre triangle boundary. According to the Education Department, a student’s designated neighbourhood government school is generally the closest to their primary residence. “Every child has the right to enrol at their closest government school or at another school of their choice, provided that school has sufficient space to accommodate them,“ a Department spokeswoman said. But many families face the prospect of having to travel further to attend Pakenham Secondary College, despite not wanting to enrol their children there. Pakenham Springs Primary School mother
Brooke McCoull’s property falls just one kilometre outside of the zoning area. “We applied as our first preference and were rejected on Friday (11 September),” she said. “I actually don’t know anyone who got approved. There seems to be no room for compromise or compassion, as all outside this zoning were rejected and appeals have been unsuccessful.” Melanie Dance wrote to the school in a bid to appeal her rejection, after her address fell just four streets from the zone. “One of the reasons we moved into the Heritage Springs estate was the proposal of a new secondary school being built within walking distance from our home,” she said. Her daughter will need to walk further to get to Pakenham Secondary, and will also need to cross the dangerous McGregor Road level crossing daily. “The zoning for this school is beyond a joke. Why build another high school in Pakenham if only a few people can go there,” she questioned. Kirsten McKendry’s property fell short by under one kilometre. She also appealed on compassionate grounds. Continued page 4
Thrilled parents and students on the site of Edenbrook College last year. 197515 Picture: GARY SISSONS
Jude and his brother Sonny jump for joy at PB Ronald Reserve at the news playgrounds were back open across the district as a small concession on the way out of lockdown. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Turn to page 46 for more pictures. 215446
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JASON WOOD MP
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