Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Education, and the action I seek is that the minister provide funding to Northcote High School for new secure bike racks to enable students to safely store their bikes.
Minister, as you would be aware, on any opportunity I will push for funding for my local schools and work with your office to secure much‑needed upgrades and facilities right across my electorate.
On this occasion I speak on behalf of Northcote High. On several occasions this year I have had the pleasure of spending time at Northcote High, including attending the official opening of the school’s brand‑new performing arts building, which I was delighted to hear was recently awarded the best project under $5 million at the Victorian School Design Awards, so my congratulations go to Kerstin Thompson Architects and to the Northcote High School community.
But, Minister, one thing that the principal, Sue Harrap, and the school council have raised with me is the urgent need for secure bike racks. Northcote High School currently has more than 1800 students and nowhere near enough bike racks to accommodate the number of students who currently ride to school, let alone those that would choose to ride if there was a secure place to leave their bike.
Sue described to me that students currently store bikes up against trees, fire hydrants, buildings and fences—in other words, anywhere that they can. Unfortunately this has led to a significant number of thefts of bikes—sometimes up to three bikes per week, I am told. That is totally unacceptable, and we need to do everything in our power to prevent it from continuing.
Northcote High has a great record of fundraising within its school community, which has been able to contribute towards improving the school. But fundraising for the bike racks would take a lengthy time and would likely lead to more student bikes being stolen and less students choosing to ride to school. In turn, this puts more pressure on the school’s drop-off zone and the precious few car parks that are available to the school, which sits on the ultra-busy St Georges Road. Conveniently, but ironically, Northcote High sits beside the fifth-busiest bike route in Australia, so we need to maximise this opportunity.
Minister, there is an urgent need for around 200 new bike racks. Any assistance that can be provided to secure these would be greatly appreciated by the school community.
