WARRACKNABEAL’s Education Precinct could be one step closer to competition.
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Member for Lowan Emma Kealy announced a $6.6 million pledge towards stage two of the project, if the Coalition is elected at November’s state election.
A total of $15 million is needed to complete stage two of the education precinct, which includes Warracknabeal Secondary College, Warracknabeal Primary School and Warracknabeal Special Development School.
The college received $4 million in the 2016-17 state government budget and the special development school received $2 million. However, the project missed out in the 2018-19 state government budget allocations for stage two funding.
Ms Kealy said the Coalition’s pledge would help make the precinct a reality.
“The Warracknabeal community has made it clear this project must be completed to deliver a better deal for local kids,” she said.
“It’s vital we get facilities up to scratch for these students as soon as possible and provide local people with the education facilities they deserve, which is what The Nationals in government will deliver.
“The school community and Warracknabeal district have not accepted Labor’s unrealistic staging of this vital project and shown their overwhelming support for a local petition to fix Labor’s mess of half built schools.”
At its most recent general meeting on September 26, Yarriambiack Shire Council passed a motion to make the Warracknabeal Education Precinct its top advocacy priority heading into this year’s state election.
Mayor Graeme Massey welcomed Ms Kealy’s pledge.
“We’re glad that there has been a commitment made today,” he said.
“Hopefully in time both governments will be able to finish this project. It honestly feels like we have been forgotten about by the government.
“This is a welcome opportunity to keep the precinct on everybody’s mind. The Coalition has decided to give it a push in the right direction, but we would like to see it go faster.”
Warracknabeal Primary School principal Danny Forrest said the precinct had potential to set a precedent for other towns across the state.
“Once this is completed, there will be nothing quite like it in the state,” he said.
“We’re excited that we’ve received this announcement today because it keeps it in the forefront of people’s minds.
“We know that this pledge won’t be enough to finish it off, but hopefully this could be a start.
“Warracknabeal has missed out on so much in the past when it comes to education funding.”
