By JESSE GRAHAM
LILYDALE’S former Swinburne University of Technology campus could be host to the Yarra Ranges’ new technical school under the new budget, according to Deputy Premier James Merlino.
In the State Budget, $8 million was allocated for planning to establish technical schools across the state, with provisions for one in the Yarra Ranges.
In a response to questions from the Mail about the budget and its impact on the Yarra Ranges, Mr Merlino said the former campus could be the site of the government’s promised technical school.
“With the Andrews Labor Government re-opening the former Swinburne University Lilydale campus to provide the community with TAFE and higher education courses, there may be the opportunity to locate the tech school on this site,” Mr Merlino said.
The proposal of placing the tech school at the Lilydale campus is one of the first that maps out a solid future for the campus, which shut in mid-2013.
However, Mr Merlino said the government was still in discussions with education providers about potentially taking up the site.
“Positive talks with Swinburne University, other tertiary providers and community stakeholders are continuing,” he said.
“We are working closely with Swinburne University to progress the sale and re-opening of the site.
“We expect that the site will be operating in some provision in the first half of 2016.”
The Labor Government pledged during their election campaign to re-open the campus for TAFE and higher education courses by any means necessary, including compulsorily re-acquiring the campus if it was sold before the election.
Labor also pledged $10 million for the re-opening, which was allocated in the budget under the government’s $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund.
The fund will allow education providers to re-open closed buildings or update workshops and classrooms.
