It is high time the state government built a school in Williams Landing, according to the suburb’s councillor.
Councillor Larry Zhao said there has been nothing more than talk about the idea since he moved to the suburb in 2012.
“When I first moved here people were saying that they are going to build a school here in Williams Landing,” Cr Zhao said.
“At the time my daughter was three years old and we had to eventually send her to Alamanda [K–9 College] in Point Cook.”
He said advocating for a primary and secondary school was one the reasons he stood for council last year.
“After more than 10 years here in Williams Landing, as everyone knows, there are still no schools,” Cr Zhao said.
“That’s why, for myself personally, I have lost my patience and it was one of my key reasons for standing [for election] to try and understand what is going on.
“I think particularly for some of the multicultural communities living here, it is especially important that they have a good education system for their children.”
Cr Zhao said having to drive children to the nearby suburbs of Truganina, Point Cook, Seabrook and Laverton can be a “nightmare” due to peak hour traffic.
“Imagine if they have two children or three children, having to go from the primary school to the high school at the same time– how hard is that?” he said.
The lack of education options has caused young families to lave Williams Landing, Cr Zhao said.
“We do have lots of children living here in Williams Landing and I have seen the turnover of people because I do have lots of friends moving because of the lack of schools.”
“Some of them go to the eastern suburbs because they have so many good schools.”
He believes there is a misconception that the suburb is new and already has everything it needs.
“I think the logic is because you already have a train station here, easy access to the freeway, a shopping centre, offices, you already have everything here and you don’t deserve a school,” Cr Zhao said.
A Department of Education spokesperson said schools servicing Williams Landing currently have the capacity to meet anticipated enrolments.
“Students in Williams Landing have several local enrolment choices for both primary and secondary government schools including Truganina South Primary School and Dohertys Creek P-9 College,” the spokesperson said.
Star Weekly understands that the shared enrolment area was established by the state government in 2022 and will remain in effect until 2028.
Primary school students residing in Williams Landing are zoned to Truganina South Primary School, Dohertys Creek P-9 College, Laverton P-12 College or Seabrook Primary School.
For secondary schooling, students fall in either the Laverton P-12 College, Carranballac P-9 College, or Dohertys Creek P-9 College zones.
It is also understood that the department has an annual planning process that factors in enrolment trends, forecast population demand, and the capacity of government schools, of which has informed the decision that the suburb is adequately serviced.
