Hume council says it stands ready to help the state government build new education facilities, with 21 new schools needed to meet the demands of population growth over the next 20 years.
Mayor Helen Patsikatheodorou said while the government’s commitment to a new school at Craigieburn was welcome, other suburbs, including Sunbury, Greenvale and Mickleham, would all need more primary and secondary education options in coming years.
‘‘Hume has provided data to the state government which demonstrates the demand for new schools in our community,’’ she said.
‘‘We want to work alongside government officials as they plan the schools that can educate our youngest residents in the decades ahead.’’
The number of primary school-age children in Hume is expected to increase 65 per cent by 2035. Secondary school enrolments are expected to rise by 51 per cent in that time.
‘‘This represents an extra 12,765 primary school-age children and an additional 8459 secondary school-age students,’’ Cr Patsikatheodorou said.
‘‘Our current state schools cannot cater for this massive growth. Now is the time for the state government to set money aside.’’
Sunbury Residents Association president Bernie O’Farrell welcomed the council’s push.
‘‘As we all know, this growth is only going to continue,’’ he said.
‘‘You’ve got all the new subdivisions along Vineyard Road and out towards Diggers Rest; there’s Sunbury Fields and more land at Racecourse Road …
“We’ve got to be proactive if we’re going to meet that need.’’
A spokesman for Education Minister James Merlino said future education needs were being addressed through a $730 million package to build new schools, upgrade existing buildings and buy land.
‘‘The government is delivering 17 new schools across Melbourne’s outer growth areas over the next few years alone, with more schools to be announced soon,’’ he said.
‘‘We will continue to work … to develop solutions for meeting current and future demand.’’
