THE state government’s Growth Areas Authority has hit back at claims it is using outdated data to determine the need for new schools in planning a 2000-home suburb in Point Cook’s west.
Worried residents and Wyndham councillors have been baffled by the education department’s claims that the Point Cook area doesn’t need more schools.
Mayor Kim McAliney is arranging a public information night with department officials to allow residents to vent their concerns. A date has yet to be set.
In the GAA’s precinct structure plan for Point Cook’s west, it stated the new suburb would be adequately serviced by existing and proposed schools.
The Point Cook South East P-9 College, due to open next year south of Sneydes Road, would help cater for more students in the area, the plans state.
GAA chief executive Peter Seamar said he had been working with the education department and Wyndham Council to ensure land was set aside for the provision of more schools in the future.
Point Cook Action Group chairman Bernard Reilly said parents were worried there were no plans for new schools from year 10 onwards.
“When you look at the sheer numbers in our primary schools at the moment, there isn’t the flow-on for years 10, 11 an, and for many, those years aren’t far away. Where will they go then?”
Mr Reilly criticised data the GAA used to determine the projected population for Point Cook’s west, which was estimated from the number of new dwellings multiplied by the average number of people per dwelling.
He said population growth wasn’t confined to new housing slated for Point Cook’s west.
New houses were being built in existing housing estates every week, bringing scores of new students.
At a recent public information night, Point Cook mother-of-two Miriam Spiess quipped that the education department must think “our kids will drop out after year 9 because we live in the west”.
Cr McAliney said education didn’t stop at
year 9.
The council says there are enough babies being born in Wyndham each week to fill two classrooms.
In 2010-11, 3059 babies were born in the municipality – 59 a week.
“The council is doing its part in building new kindergartens, but we need make sure government gives us proper primary and secondary education,” Cr McAliney said.
