THE Nationals have pledged $10 million to build stage one of St Mary MacKillop College’s new campus, if the Coalition is elected on Saturday.
The Catholic co-education college has outgrown its current McCrae Street location, which was the former site of St Mary’s Primary School and Swan Hill Primary School.
Principal Michelle Haeusler told The Guardian that six years ago, she and the business manager had a conversation about the future of the school and its current location.
“We had knowledge that enrolments were increasing at the local Catholic school that could see a flow through to here,” she said.
“We spoke about what we could do in terms of development. If we decided to stay where we are, we would have to build up or move to a new site.
“We are landlocked on not even two hectares, with lots of old buildings from the two primary schools.”
The college bought a six hectare greenfield site at 183-187 Gray Street in August, which backs onto the Ken Harrison sporting complex.
“We are now planning for the next 50 years into the future, which will be amazing,” she said.
It was hoped stage one will be completed by 2025.
Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said the school’s 100-year history, starting in 1923 with the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart opening its first primary school next to the parish church in Splatt Street, is a “proud legacy of delivering quality education”.
He said the St Mary MacKillop College formally opened its doors in 1987 and now its bold plan to provide for the next generations of Swan Hill’s children “deserves all the support it can get”.
“A Liberal-Nationals government would make sure the funding the school needs – and deserves – is released from the non-government schools’ capital program,” Mr Walsh said.
“And the exciting thing is, this is just the first stage of this significant project, which the school estimates will cost around $15 million and will include a general learning centre, technology centre and administration and support areas, alongside car parking and external works.”
Mr Walsh has met with Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education board and school representatives and inspected the proposed site for the new school.
More reaction and the decision to expand in Friday’s The Guardian.
