By Derek Schlennstedt
Monbulk MP James Merlino and Liberal candidate for Monbulk John Schurink both pledged more than $5 million for projects in the township of Monbulk.
On Friday 20 July, Mr Merlino met with Monbulk Primary School students, parents and teachers and announce that if re-elected in November, a Labor government would invest $7.1 million to build a new library, Grade 5 and 6 building, and two competition-grade outdoor netball courts.
The same day, Mr Schurink, Liberal Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and Shadow Police Minister, Ed O’Donohue announced that a Liberal government would invest $5.1 million to rebuild the Monbulk Police Station.
Speaking at the Monbulk Primary assembly, Mr Merlino asked students about the condition of the existing Grade 5 and 6 building and was met with a unanimous response from students that it was “old and smelt“.
“As both the Minister for Education and the local member, I know how much Monbulk Primary matters to local families,“ he said.
“These investments will make sure local kids are getting the very best start in life.“
He said students would use the netball courts during school times and clubs could use them outside school hours.
Principal Lyn Ordish spoke to the ‘Mail’ shortly after the announcement and said the school didn’t have a library and that the Grade 5 and 6 portables could no longer cater to increasing student numbers.
Outside the Monbulk Police Station, Mr Schurink said it was “vital that the Monbulk community has the resources it needs to fight crime and protect our communities when we need help the most and this new facility will provide that”.
“The current facilities in Monbulk are no longer acceptable for a station that not only provides police response here, but also over a large area across the Dandenong Ranges,” he said.
“These new facilities will improve the safety for all of our police men and women so they can continue to keep not only Monbulk, but all Victorians safe.”
