Friday, 20 February 2009
Students at Kinglake, Kinglake West and Flowerdale Primary Schools are on track to return to their schools on Monday as their doors reopen for the first time since the communities were devastated by the recent bushfires.
Education Minister Bronwyn Pike visited Kinglake today as semi-trailers moved the first relocatable classroom up the mountain to help school life revive for the affected communities.
“The Brumby Government is committed to rebuilding Victoria in the wake of the devastating bushfires,” Ms Pike said.
“Families have told us that they wanted the option of schooling on the mountain as soon as possible so the reopening of these schools is an important step on the road to rebuilding these communities.
“Moving these classrooms up the mountain today sends a message to those families trying to rebuild their lives that they will be supported every step of the way in restoring their communities to their preferred way of life.”
The three schools have been cleaned, repaired and undergone safety inspections. The Department will ensure that all families are contacted should there be any changes to Monday’s reopening.
Several sections of one building will be moved to Kinglake Primary School today in preparation for school next week, and additional buildings will also start moving to Middle Kinglake to start establishing a temporary school next to the old school site.
This week, principals and teachers from Middle Kinglake, Flowerdale, Kinglake and Kinglake West Primary Schools were provided with a temporary schooling option at Epping Views Primary School. This options will remain open.
In the days after the fires, Premier John Brumby promised that all three schools destroyed – Marysville, Strathewen and Middle Kinglake – will be rebuilt.
As part of the ongoing recovery:
• The first of five relocatable buildings – comprising six classrooms, a library, administration area and toilets – was taken to a site adjacent to Middle Kinglake Primary School today;
• These will be installed over the next three to four weeks on land next door to the destroyed school; and
• Middle Kinglake Primary students will be accommodated at this adjoining site while their new school is rebuilt.
“I have seen how important it is to provide options to keep communities together, to help them draw strength from each other and rebuild together. Today is another step on that path and we will continue to do everything we can to support them,” Ms Pike said.
