Left over funds for hall

By Kelly Yates
A BERWICK school council president is hoping to use what he says is “left over funds” from the federal schools stimulus program to upgrade the school’s old hall into a performing arts centre.
Brett Wakeman from Brentwood Park Primary School says the school is happy with scoring the new gymnasium as part of the Building the Education Revolution (BER), but wants to use the remaining money for upgrade works at the school.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood met with Mr Wakeman at the school last Friday.
Mr Wood said the onsite construction costs appeared to be well below the $3 million price tag for the new building.
He said similar multipurpose buildings had been estimated to only cost $1.6 million to construct.
“Brentwood Park Primary School has been allocated $3 million and there’s no way the new gym would cost $3 million,” Mr Wood said.
A spokesman for Education Minister Bronwyn Pike says the system-based rollout of the BER in Victoria ensures every school ends up getting the building it agreed on, even if there are additional costs associated with construction, such as hitting bedrock, building on a slope or dealing with heritage overlays.
“For example, if two schools receive a $2 million gym, and one costs $1.8 million and the other $2.2 million – a system-based approach means both schools still get the same building,” the spokesman said.
“Typically, the Liberal Party will say everything to please everyone. They want to give change to schools for building projects, but won’t reveal who will pay to ensure schools get the building they agreed on if there are additional costs or problems during construction.”
Mr Wood said there were other schools in Casey in the same boat as Brentwood Park Primary School.
“Berwick Lodge Primary School and Berwick Primary School are in similar situations. Other local schools have been able to choose exactly how they spend their $3 million and Brentwood Park deserves the same choice,” he said.
“Julia Gillard has previously promised schools that they would be able to re-direct any left over BER funds to companion projects. The Prime Minister needs to step up and address the BER concerns raised by Brentwood Park Primary School.”
Mr Wakeman, who has three children at the school, said the existing gymnasium would be ideal as a performing arts centre.
He estimated the school would need between $350,000 and $400,000 to upgrade the old gym.
“Performing arts is a big part of the school. We have a strong school choir and aerobics teams,” Mr Wakeman said.
The spokesman said the school stimulus program was progressing well, with 88 per cent of tenders awarded or about to be awarded and construction on all 1253 P21 projects expected to begin by the end of next month.
“The Education Minister is committed to releasing additional information on project costs once all tenders are let.”