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Original adjournment matter from Juliana Addison MP to Parliament –

My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate of Wendouree to celebrate the practical completion of works at Mount Rowan Secondary College.

The minister is no stranger to Mount Rowan Secondary College, having visited the school on several occasions to see progress of our record investment into the school’s redevelopment.

The Andrews Labor government most recently provided over $3.5 million in the 2019 state budget to upgrade and modernise school facilities. This included the refurbishment of the old administration areas, completing landscape work and resurfacing the existing courts. This funding was in addition to $12 million already delivered for Mount Rowan’s facilities by our government. I thank the Premier and the Minister for Education for their strong support for Mount Rowan Secondary College.

I have had the pleasure of visiting Mount Rowan on many occasions. It is an excellent school led by the inspirational principal, Seona Murnane, with dedicated teachers and support staff as well as terrific students.

I was able to attend both the school musical Fried and the end-of-year awards back in 2019 in the new auditorium, and staff, students and parents were very pleased with the investments being made at the school.

The recent work is not only good news for teachers and students but also local jobs. I thank Ballarat construction firm AW Nicholson and their contractors for the great work they have done. The school is looking fantastic.

With the values of pride, respect and excellence, Mount Rowan Secondary College is going from strength to strength, and the community is paying attention. The student population has more than doubled in size in the last nine years. These are the facilities that a growing school community deserves, and I am incredibly proud that our government, the Andrews Labor government, has supported this fantastic school.

I look forward to welcoming the Minister for Education to Mount Rowan Secondary College for this important event very soon.

Response from the Hon. James Merlino MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for Education, & Minister for Mental Health (13th August 2021) –

I am informed as follows:

The Andrews Labor Government has now invested more than $10.9 billion over the past seven years to deliver more than 1,700 school upgrades, open 100 new schools by 2026, and support around 13,500 jobs in construction and associated industries. We will continue to invest in school infrastructure throughout this term of government.

Firstly, I wish to commend Mount Rowan Secondary College’s staff for the invaluable contribution that they make to the school community. I acknowledge their commitment to providing an exceptional learning environment where students are engaged, stimulated, and encouraged to be creative thinkers.

As you mentioned, the college received a total of $12.03 million in the 2015–16, 2016–17, and 2017–18 State Budgets to fund the first stage of its upgrade and modernisation project. Works included the construction of a new science building and synthetic courts, upgrades to the performing arts centre, and refurbishments to the VCE centre, canteen, staff toilets, music rooms, and administration building. These works were completed in March 2020.

In the 2019–20 State Budget, a further $3.596 million was allocated to the college for additional upgrade and modernisation works. Works included further upgrades to the administration building, landscaping works, the installation of flag poles and completing fencing and lighting works around the college. These works commenced in July 2020 and were completed in December 2020.

I would like to thank you for your kind invitation to visit the college. I would be pleased to visit to see these upgrades firsthand, when my schedule permits. In the meantime, I wish the students all the best with their new facilities.

I trust this information is of assistance.