Bellarine Times
Thursday 18 September 2014
VOL 7. No 38
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
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Ocean Grove Primary School assistant principal Nigel Holloway (left) and pupils Gabi Phillips, Kaia Young and Ted Murphy (right) with Clem Newton-Brown, Ron Nelson and Terry Mulder after the announcement. Photo: JAMES TAYLOR
SCHOOLWORK Coalition pledges $3.5 million towards Ocean Grove Primary School
BY JAMES TAYLOR
THE fight for November’s state election has entered the schoolyard, with the Coalition pledging $3.5 million to upgrade Ocean Grove Primary School if it is re-elected. Last week, Minister for Public Transport and Roads Terry Mulder, Parliamentary Secretary for Education Clem Newton-Brown and Liberal candidate for Bellarine Ron Nelson visited
the school to make the announcement. Mr Mulder was representing Minister for Education Martin Dixon, who said the Coalition had already delivered $426,000 for targeted maintenance at Ocean Grove Primary School as part of a $23 million investment in maintenance at 169 schools across the state. “This investment will deliver modern, high quality facilities for the Ocean Grove school community and the broader Bellarine community.”
Ocean Grove Primary has a strong focus on literacy and numeracy for its 450 pupils, in addition to a balanced curriculum that includes the arts, physical education and humanities taught through inquiry-based learning. Ocean Grove Primary School assistant principal Nigel Holloway said the $426,000 would be used on immediate maintenance needs at the school in Draper Street, with the $3.5 million – if it was delivered after the election – to be
spent on more complex works. “We’ve put a lot of work into making the school look great, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done.” He said there were a variety of projects that the funding could be put towards. “There’s a pool in one corner that never gets used; there’s space we’d like to get back.” Mr Nelson said the Coalition’s commitment would be welcomed by the local community.
“The Napthine government has already delivered funding of $5.7 million for Portarlington Primary School, and $1.1 million for Clifton Springs Primary School. “I look forward to working with the Ocean Grove Primary School community to ensure current and future students can continue to get a great local education.” The Coalition’s announcement came on the same day that Labor pledged $3 million towards Moriac Primary School.
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