Students in Ballarat will soon have access to the first-rate classrooms and facilities they need, with work underway upgrading Ballarat High School.

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison, today turned the first sod to start construction on Ballarat High School’s $4 million upgrade, which will help it deliver a 21st century education.

S.J. Weir has been appointed to build the upgrade, which will include modernisation works to the arts and technology wing.

In addition, Ms Addison also announced an $800,000 contract with local architectural firm Morton Dunn to plan and design stage three of the school’s revamp, including the J.J. Sheehan building and the heritage administration building.

Ms Addison said stage two of the school’s upgrade will create local jobs, with work expected to be completed by August, 2020.

“These local upgrades are part of the school building boom that is happening right across Victoria,” Ms Addison said.

“Upgrading Ballarat High School will give local students access to great classrooms and facilities – because you can’t deliver a first-rate education in second-rate classrooms,” she said.

Ballarat High School Principal, Gary Palmer, said he was delighted the next stage of the school’s redevelopment was underway.

“It is with great excitement that we now move onto stage two of our schools capital works program with a $4 million complete refurbishment of our art and technology teaching areas. The creative arts and design area of our school is a consistent state award winning part of our curriculum and we look forward to modern state of the art facilities for our students and staff to work in” Mr Palmer said.

Under the Andrews Government’s school building boom, a total of 100 new schools will open by 2026, ensuring every child has a great local school and a great start in life.

The government has invested $5.6 billion to deliver more than 1,400 school upgrades, supporting over 5,000 construction jobs for Victorians.