By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong’s schools – with one major exception – have benefited from what State Treasurer Tim Pallas has labelled “the biggest education budget in Victoria’s history”, in Tuesday’s State Budget.
Dandenong High School ($3 million), Lyndale ($7 million) and Noble Park ($5 million) secondary colleges are in line for upgrades over coming years.
According to budget paper’s, Keysborough Secondary College received $1.5 million for refurbishments up to the end of 2017 – well short of the $11.5 million stage-three rebuild that the government promised before last year’s election.
A government spokeswoman told the Journal that the funds were for planning the rebuild; the remaining $10 million will be provided during “this term of government”.
Chandler Park and Springvale Rise primary schools were also funded for upgrades.
The State’s “biggest increase in school funding” includes $178 million to help disadvantaged students go on school camps, get free eye tests and free breakfasts.
Mr Pallas said the government was still chasing more than $13 billion in promised Gonski Federal funding for the next 10 years.
The government will also commit to 20 E-class trams and 21 VLocity regional carriages, which could be built at Bombardier’s factory in Dandenong as part of a $2 billion rolling-stock package.
It has also recently announced the removal Noble Park’s three level crossings by 2018, and the initial stages of upgrading the Cranbourne-Pakenham rail corridor.
