More than a year since Greater Shepparton Secondary College moved to its amalgamated site, the former site of Mooroopna College, McGuire College and Wanganui Park Secondary College site are unused, boarded up and falling into disrepair.
Ms O’Keeffe said that she has had continual interactions and conversations from the broader community regarding these abandoned sites and has recently met with Mooroopna community members who want their say in the future of the former Mooroopna Secondary School site.
“These members of the Mooroopna community that I have recently met with, are calling for the former Mooroopna Secondary School site to be developed in consultation with the broader Mooroopna community.
“They do not want to be forced into having something that they do not want nor desire. They are also do not want to see the school continue to sit abandoned just like the former Mooroopna Hospital site.
“Whilst it has been announced in recent times, and some funding has been allocated to relocate Verney Road School to part of the former Wanganui Park site, the funding is well below the amount that is actually needed.
“Should the Verney Road School relocate, and this will be another empty site? What will be the future of that site?
“All of the school sites are located in residential areas with no progress and continue to be an eyesore for the community. How much longer will these sites sit boarded up and patrolled by security, at tax-payers expense?
Ms O’Keeffe said the amalgamation of four school sites into one has presented a number of challenged for our community.
“Parent groups and the broader community have continually voiced their frustration with the current lack of choice in public secondary options, and the one size fits all model does not work for everyone.
“The Mooroopna community deserve to be included and consulted with the future of the Mooroopna Secondary School site. But what we are seeing is, that this is not happening at all.”