A NEW BEGINNING FOR PRESTON SOUTH
Students at Preston South Primary School will soon have access to the first-rate classrooms and facilities they deserve, with work under way to upgrade the school.
Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous this week celebrated the start of construction on Preston South’s $14.63 million upgrade, which will help it deliver a 21st century education.
APM Group (Aust) has been appointed to build the upgrade, which will see the new 3-story building come to life, bringing with it modern learning spaces, dedicated science and tech spaces, collaborative staff areas and new outdoor landscaping and playspaces.
Critically, this upgrade will deliver much needed space for an additional 200 students, as this rapidly growing school continues to see enrolment numbers rise.
Over the years, Preston South Primary has seen some tough times, including two fires that limited to amount of space available for students.
Kat Theophanous today congratulated Principal Leon Leonidas and the School Council on reaching this important milestone.
This funding was secured thanks to a collaboration between Kat Theophanous, the school, students and parents in 2020. The Member for Northcote worked closely with the school community to put forward a modern and welcoming vision for what could be achieved at the Preston South.
Since being elected in 2019, Ms Theophanous has made it a priority to work closely with local schools to deliver the support and funding they need to meet enrolments pressures and provide modern, accessible learning spaces for students.
After years of neglect under the former Liberal Government, which invested a mere $300,000 in local schools in the area over its term of government, Ms Theophanous is determined to see a modernisation of inner north schools. Over $78 million has been secured for exciting school upgrades and projects across the Northcote Electorate over the last two years.
This is part of the Andrews Labor Government’s commitment to build the Education State.
In the past seven years, the Victorian Government has invested more than $10.9 billion in building new schools and more than 1,700 school upgrades, creating around 13,500 jobs in construction and associated industries. It is now ahead of schedule in its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 62 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024.
Quotes attributable to Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous MP
“These local upgrades to Preston South Primary are part of the school building boom that is happening right across Victoria.”
“It’s long overdue for Preston South and I am so thrilled to be able to celebrate – even from afar – the first sod turn and a new chapter at the school.”
“We couldn’t be there in person, so my office sent a celebratory shovel to Principal Leonidas to mark the milestone. It’s important we continue to share and rejoice in these local wins which speak to a bright future for our suburbs.”
