Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Special School’s Sunbury campus will finally be expanded thanks to a $10.8 million boost from the state budget.
The funding is also set to benefit Sunbury’s beloved Jacksons Hill.
Education Minister James Merlino and Sunbury MP Josh Bull announced the $10.8 million funding yesterday as part of the state’s 2018-19 budget to be unveiled next week.
Mr Bull said the funding would allow a section of Jacksons Hill, including land and buildings, to be transferred to the specialist school.
School principal Joanne Nolan said she was “absolutely thrilled” with the announcement, with expansion of the school having been on the cards for about six years.
She said the new space would be used for classrooms, playspace and, potentially, a specialist service.
She said the school was hoping to be able to offer vocational training at the Sunbury campus, where it could be closer to public transport and employment opportunities.
Vocational training is currently run at the Bullengarook campus.
Mr Bull said the funding would go towards refurbishing buildings at Jacksons Hill for use by the school and also to protecting and maintaining the location’s heritage assets.
Maintenance of the buildings, which are currently owned by Victoria University and remain vacant and deteriorating, has been an increasing point of concern for the Sunbury community.
Mr Bull said plans for the rest of Jacksons Hill, contained in a finalised master plan for the site, were expected to be released in a couple of months.
