Community groups are being encouraged to put their names forward for access to Ballarat Secondary College’s Barkly Street campus at the end of the school year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The campus will cease to operate at the end of the 2016 school year, with the BSC Wendouree and East Ballarat campuses set to expand to offer year 11 and 12 from 2017 onward.
Buninyong MP Geoff Howard will meet with community organisations interested in using the site on Monday, with the hope of formulating a proposal which will be put to the Department of Education before the end of the school year.
Mr Howard said while he was open to all suggestions on the future use of the site, he believed it would be best used by a number of different community organisations.
“I’m open to any suggestions but my feeling is it’s too big for any one organisation that I’m aware of,” Mr Howard said.
“What I don't want to see is what’s happened with so many education properties in the past when a school's moved out, they then sit for a year or two as Golden Point did.”
The campus will remain in the hands of the Department of Education following the departure of BSC. If they do not have a use for the site it will then be offered to other government departments.
Ballarat Community Health, University of the Third Age and the Western Victoria Climbing Club have all expressed interest in using the space.
Both the climbing club and U3A are currently using the space on a part-time basis, but would look to set up a more permanent home at the Barkly Street facility if given the go-ahead by the Department of Education.
U3A Ballarat president Blake Gordon described the facility as the perfect location for the mature-age education provider, which has over 900 students enrolled for courses in 2017.
“Clearly the important thing for us is that it’s located in the heart of East Ballarat,” Mr Gordon said.
“The site is so big I can't see any conflict with groups wanting to use it.
“We're willing to work with other groups and enter into agreements which will benefit all.”