Families in one of Melbourne’s newest urban renewal communities are a step closer to having an exciting new vertical school, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Education James Merlino, Member for Albert Park Martin Foley and Member for Southern Metropolitan Nina Taylor today visited the building site of Fishermans Bend Secondary School (interim name) in Port Melbourne as it reached structural completion of the four-storey vertical school.
Fishermans Bend Secondary School – the school’s interim name – is one of a growing number of vertical government schools being rolled out in Victoria to help meet increasing demand. It will open in 2022 and cater for up to 1,100 students.
Designed in consultation with the local community, the state-of-the art school will showcase environmentally sustainable design, housing solar panels and solar batteries, food production gardens, outdoor learning terraces, sustainable material selection, dynamic facade design to maintain thermal comfort without compromising natural light, and extensive bicycle facilities for students and staff.
The school will have a strong focus on STEAM, and will feature high-tech amenities, including a fabrication lab and robotics workshop, along with an array of arts, food technology, sports and Learning Resource Centre spaces that can be shared with the community.
It will expose students to career pathways that align with Fishermans Bends proposed design, engineering and manufacturing precinct.
The school was funded in the Victorian Budget 2019/20 which invested $624.8 million to build new schools across the state.
In the past five years, the Labor Government has invested more than $9 billion in more than 1,600 school upgrades – creating more than 10,000 construction jobs – and is now ahead of schedule its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 48 new schools opening between 2019 and 2022.
“We’re rolling out seven vertical schools to make sure there are enough school places for young Victorians across the inner city.”
— Minister for Education James Merlino
“The community’s vision for a Fishermans Bend secondary school is now becoming a reality and students will soon get to attend a modern, innovative and important local school.”
— Minister for Equality, Health and Ambulance Services Martin Foley
“Right across inner city Melbourne, we are delivering new schools and upgrading existing schools – so all Victorians can access a great local school.”