HORSHAM College will seek final approval for its initial redevelopment design at a meeting in Melbourne on May 11.
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The project will result in about 25 new classrooms being added to the school.
College principal Rob Pyers said the school was ready to go to a prep meeting.
‘‘Once that is complete we will move to schematic design and tender,’’ he said.
‘‘We are certainly hoping we’ll start building works in August or September this year.
‘‘We should have students in new buildings in the latter half of 2016.’’
Mr Pyers said the proposed design would include new buildings for yearseven, eight and 10 students.
‘‘There will be an arts-science centre with a senior school suite with about five general purpose classrooms, a food technology building and a canteen,’’ he said.
Mr Pyers said a range of other improvements were also being made.
‘‘We’ve got the change rooms and the stadium being refurbished and we’re also developing a dance and drama studio,’’ he said.
‘‘We are also looking upstairs at some general purpose classrooms, and potentially some pretty exciting developments in our sport and recreation area.’’
Mr Pyers said the other works would be completed with money from the college’s program budget.
Opposition education spokesman Nick Wakeling and Member for Lowan Emma Kealy visited the school on Wednesday for an update on the redevelopment.
Horsham College was granted its wish for money for the redevelopment in last year’s budget after missing out in three consecutive budgets.
The former government gave $10 million to the project, which was half of what was originally requested.
‘‘Let’s be frank, the former Coalition government – for its four years – was having to deal with 11 years of inaction from the then former Brumby-Bracks governments,’’ Mr Wakeling said.
‘‘They did not see fit to invest in infrastructure in this region. By contrast, we as a government in that four-year period invested in infrastructure throughout regional Victoria.’’
Mr Wakeling said the government had not made any infrastructure commitments for education in the Wimmera.
‘‘They had the opportunity in the lead-up to the election to make funding commitments – they had that opportunity and they chose not to,’’ he said.
‘‘The government says it wants to govern for all Victorians. The simple way to do that is provide infrastructure investment in regional Victoria.’’
Ms Kealy and Mr Wakeling visited schools at Dimboola and Warracknabeal on Thursday.
