Point Cook residents are concerned the state government is not doing enough to plan for the future education of children after it failed to set aside land for a second senior secondary school in the suburb.
The area is home to three government prep to year 9 schools, with a fourth expected to open in 2017 or 2018. But there is only one school providing years 10 to 12.
Parents want the government to secure a site for another senior school to ensure that students can finish their education at Point Cook.
Point Cook Action Group president Tony Hooper said parents were concerned about what would happen to their children once they finish year 9.
“There has been very short-sighted planning,” he said. “A lot of people are concerned that land isn’t being set aside.
“Land has been sitting there for two to three years for the new prep to year 9 school. Where is the land for a years 10 to 12 school going to come from?
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that if you are building all these prep to year 9 schools in the area you need to cover years 10 to 12 in a bigger capacity.”
The action group’s concerns follow a government call for expressions of interest from companies keen to finance, build and maintain the next prep to year 9 school.
It will be one of 13 growth-area schools to be built under a public-private partnership.
Treasurer Michael O’Brien said the successful consortiums would maintain the schools for 25 years.
“This approach means teachers and principals can focus on providing Victorian children with the best education possible, rather than painting walls and fixing broken windows,” he said.
Education Minister Martin Dixon has previously said Point Cook would not get more years 10 to 12 schools until population growth calls for them, adding that the area was well served by existing schools.
“We’re monitoring all the time with the local council, with developers, with our existing schools and … the Australian Bureau of Statistics,” he said.
