By KATH GANNAWAY
WORK on a new $259,000 car park at Woori Yallock Primary School will start soon.
School captains Kassity Cairns and Orlando Russell joined Casey MP Tony Smith and Yarra Ranges Councillor Jim Child on Friday for a symbolic turning of the sod to set the project on its way.
It will take more than a shiny shovel to break decades of compacted soil, but the significance of the event was enough to bring a smile and a sigh of relief to principal Danny Hyndman, assistant principal Brendan Fitzpatrick and School Council president Kate Russell, who have advocated, waited and worked hard to get a new, safe car park for the school.
The car park will serve not only the school, but other groups in the community who use the school’s facilities after hours.
Mr Smith said it was an exciting day for everyone involved in getting the project up and running.
“I was very pleased to be able to promise at the last Federal Election that if our government was elected we would fund the project,” he said.
He recognised the role O’Shannassy Ward representative Cr Child had played as mayor at the time, saying he had advocated strongly and was instrumental, along with council’s director of Environment and Engineering, Mark Vermalis, in getting the council on board to deliver the project.
“With work now underway, the Woori Yallock Primary School students, teachers, parents and wider community will soon see a safer car park area.”
Cr Child said Yarra Ranges Council had a reputation for getting projects shovel ready, and the Woori Yallock school car park was an example of that.
“This project is a great example of a partnership approach,” he said.
“The school lobbied for the car park, the Federal Government funded it and council will deliver it.
“It will significantly improve the traffic congestion, not only for the school community, but for residents in the local streets.”
Mr Hyndman thanked Mr Smith and Cr Child for their strong advocacy on behalf of the school, and noted the work done by Ms Russell and Mr Fitzpatrick who, he said, had been the driving forces behind the school’s campaign to get a safer car park.
The project will extend and seal the existing gravel car park, provide a disabled parking space and new footpath connections.
