Thomas Carr College plans $8 million expansion

An artist's impression of the proposed VCE building. Picture: Thomas Carr

Thomas Carr College is getting an upgrade.

The school has lodged plans for an $8 million expansion that, if approved, will include a double-storey VCE school building and refurbishment works to the existing year 10 building – which is the oldest building on the school grounds.

Principal Andrew Watson said the senior school building would include a university-style lecture theatre to prepare students for tertiary education.

“It’s a look at effective transitioning to university-style lectures, and it also provides us with another gathering space for year levels,” he said. “[The expansion] will provide 30 classrooms, a lecture theatre and a commons area for students.

“We’re planning for the future, and the demographics tell us there will be a need to accommodate more students in the future. We’re very conscious that there’s going to be a fair amount of development north of us, and that falls into our catchment zone.”

Construction for the new VCE building is expected to begin towards the end of 2018, and will be a 12-month build. Refurbishment works on the existing year 10 building will begin in early to mid-2020.

The plans follow the recent completion of a $22 million redevelopment at Thomas Carr, which included a new year 7 and 8 building, a trade training centre, a college chapel, the acquisition and refurbishment of a country campus just outside Colac, a state-of-the art performing arts centre and an expanded gymnasium with a show court.