Tuesday 2nd May 2017
Member for Murray Plains and Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh is bitterly disappointed the 2017-18 State Budget has ignored the pressing needs of students at Echuca Specialist School.
Mr Walsh was particularly critical of the Andrews Labor Government’s failure to inject funds into this desperately needed new educational facility.
“The concept of developing a new education hub on a greenfield site in Echuca has been flagged for more than a decade now “ Mr Walsh said.
“The Liberal Nationals in government committed $25 million in capital money to build this new learning environment which merged Echuca West Echuca South and Echuca Specialist schools”
Under the Andrews Labor Government the entire project has been stalled.
It has been split into two different stages – the master plan for the first stage has been reduced significantly and funding of the second stage still not committed to.
“It is a travesty that children at the Specialist School are left out in the cold again by this city-centric government “ Mr Walsh said.
“These most deserving young people are being educated in outdated non-purpose built portable buildings which struggle with the basics of sewerage and power. It’s a disgrace.
“Daniel Andrews has once again shown his government’s complete disregard for Echuca’s students and their parents. Teachers and students have every right to feel very let down.”