Close to $4 million allocated to the new Warrnambool Special Development School remains unspent, budget papers show.
Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said the project was allocated $14.6 million, but the budget papers show only $11.5 million was expected to be spent this financial year, leaving just over $3 million.
“The budget papers also show there is $735,000 remaining from the allocation used for the purchase the land,” Mrs Britnell said.
“I understand the building isn’t finished yet and contingencies need to be in place, but there is money left over from the completed part of the project – buying the land.
“That should be put back into the school coffers so they can buy essential equipment and I’ve asked the Minister to explain what this money is to be used for.”
Mrs Britnell said it seemed unfair the school community now had to fundraise for what she considers standard items in a new school build.
“You can’t move a school to a new site and not give them what they previously had and then say it’s up to you to pay for it,” she said.
“I understand many school fundraise to improve their grounds, but this is starting to sound as though the government is just doing the bare minimum and not giving the new school, at the very least, what it had at the old site.”
