Schools win if Libs do

By Russell Bennett
YARRA Ranges Council has slammed Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe for a funding promise which it has labelled “ridiculous”.
Ms Fyffe committed to funding two key Mount Evelyn primary school projects should the coalition win next month’s state election but the council isn’t waiting for the polls to be decided.
On Monday Yarra Ranges Council announced it had already decided to spend $148,000 on parking improvements at Birmingham Primary School following Ms Fyffe’s announcement that the coalition would spend $155,000 if it won the election.
According to Ms Fyffe, the council hoped the State Government would match its pledge for the project.
“But the current Labor Government only agreed to put in $18,000 which would have allowed council to do no more than just tinker around the edges without dealing with the parking congestion,” Ms Fyffe said.
But Billanook Ward councillor Tim Heenan said the council had given up waiting for education department money and decided to fund its own modified version of the project.
“This whole thing is ridiculous,” Cr Heenan said.
“We will go ahead even without government money.”
Cr Heenan said the council had put aside money for the project which would also include connecting a nearby footpath, making it easier for kids and parents to get to and from school.
Ms Fyffe made the Birmingham Primary School announcement alongside opposition education spokesman Martin Dixon, who said “as a former Principal, I understand how difficult it can be trying to access necessary funding for projects that will benefit the school community”.
The parking problems at Birmingham Primary relate to the traffic congestion around pick-up and drop-off times.
Ms Fyffe, along with Mr Dixon, also announced $100,000 for flashing speed signs outside St Mary’s Primary School on busy Clegg Road.
The issue, which was covered by the Mail earlier this month, has been closely monitored by a number of Mount Evelyn parents, including Vivien Lacey-Drieberg who said: “Clegg Road is a thoroughfare from Canterbury Road through to the Warburton Highway. “Lights would mean we don’t have to worry about our kids crossing the road.”
Ms Fyffe’s opponent for the seat of Evelyn, Peter Harris, warned local residents about the coalition’s recent pledges.
“Lots of local promises have been made but none of been costed,” he said.
“The opposition probably needs to have a bit of a look at that.”