Bayview work part of $22m shire-wide

20 January 2010

BY ANGELA MCFEETERS

TWO classrooms at Bayview College were stripped and then demolished earlier this week to begin the process of building a $1.97 million double-storey science and language centre.

Bayview College was one of the many schools that received funding through Federal Government programs equalling more than $22 million in the Glenelg Shire.

The Bayview funding, from the Building the Education Revolution program, will see a centre built on the north-east side of the Bentinck St site.

An $868,000 three-classroom project would also be built under the same roofline at the same time after Bayview received funding for that project through some Federal Government block funding, according to principal Jim Goodall.

The removal of the two rooms and part of the room behind it (also known as St Mary’s) would expose the wall of an 18th-Century bluestone home, Bayview Cottage, which had been built over.

The Loreto Sisters bought the cottage in 1912 as accommodation for boarders studying at their school next-door.

Mr Goodall said Bayview students and some experienced volunteers would do a small archaeological dig alongside the wall, because items from 130 years ago may be buried there.

The wall would then be restored, and construction would start on the building project, with its expected completion in July or August.

Mr Goodall said Portland building contractors G.R. Carr Pty Ltd was the principal contractor for the project, and they would use local sub-contractors to ensure the local community received support during the economic downturn.

Federal funding — from programs including National School Pride, Nation Building Program, Primary Schools for the 21st Century and Build the Education Revolution — for works within the Glenelg Shire during 2009:

All Saints Parish School $2.125m

Bayview College $2.1m

Bolwarra Primary School $925,000

Bundarra Primary School $2.125m

Casterton Primary School $2m

Dartmoor Primary School $365,000;

Heywood Consolidated School $2.125;

Heywood and District Secondary College $2.1m

Narrawong District Primary School $300,000;

Portland North Primary School $2.125m

Portland Primary School $850,000

Portland Secondary College $2.1m

Portland South Primary School $925,000;

Portland Special Developmental School $300,000

St John’s Lutheran School $2.125m