ARARAT West Primary has received $2.1 million from the state government to help replace five classrooms that were lost in a fire late last month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Visiting the school on Friday, Victorian Education Minister James Merlino announced a new modular building would be constructed to replace Block B, which was damaged by the fire.
The new building will include classrooms, an art and craft room and staff working areas.
Students returned to the school this week following the fire last month which forced them to relocate temporarily to Ararat Secondary College.
“The fire had a big impact on this school community that is why it is so important that we quickly responded to give these kids the facilities they need,” Mr Merlino said.
“Every child deserves to have great facilities, great teachers and get a great education and that is what we are doing right across the state.”
The school is the latest to receive funding as part of the state government’s $155 million asbestos removal and building replacement program.
Across the state 26 schools have been selected for modular buildings as part of the rollout.
The modular buildings are designed to reduce planning and building times.
The Education Department expected Work on Ararat West’s new Block B to begin in March 2018 and be completed in mid-2018 in time for the beginning of Term 3.
Country Fire Authority volunteers who helped fight the school blaze also attended the announcement ceremony.
Ararat West Primary School principal Terry Keilar thanked the firefighters and said the school had been through some tough times.
CFA District 16 operations manager Neville Collins said it was very fulfilling for the volunteers and himself to see the school recovering after the fire.
“It’s a sense of fulfillment that the building is being rebuild. That will be good for the township,” he said.
Mr Collins said there was a concern that volunteers could have been exposed to asbestos during the fire but their equipment had tested negative for traces of the carcinogenic insulation material.
As part of its emergency response to the fire, the state government also $370,000 to furnish and install relocatable buildings at the site.
Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford said the Ararat West fire demonstrated the strength of the Ararat community.
“It gives us great pleasure to bring some positive news after such a sad event,” she said.
Related stories
- Ararat West Primary School fire not deliberately lit
- Ararat West Primary wins a Mik Mak Show
- Classrooms arrive at Ararat West to replace fire losses
- Daisy provides ‘yelping hand’ for Ararat West | Photos, Videos
- Ararat fires not linked at this stage, police say
- Ararat West sets up at College after fire | Photos, Video
- Heartbreak after Ararat West Primary classrooms burn | Photos