By Aaron Cordy
WHAT will become of the three abandoned campuses once the GSSC Super School opened has finally been answered with an announcement by the Allan Labor Government Friday, December 22, 2023. While there has been limited use of the facilities at some of the campuses, they will now have new life breathed into them as they are transformed for community and learning purposes.
The former Mooroopna Secondary College site on Echuca Road is the final secondary school site to be confirmed for community use, following the former McGuire College and Wanganui Park Secondary College, which have also been retained for educational use. Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative will take over the Mooroopna site for its family service programs.
“Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative Ltd has a long and proud history in the Mooroopna area, and we look forward to expanding and utilising the space available at the former school site to support Community,” said Rumbalara CEO Felicia Dean.
The Wanganui campus has been under planning since 2022 as it is prepared for redevelopment into the new Verney Road school site, while it continues to host basketball games amidst the continued stadium conundrum.
The redevelopment of the three sites will bring much-needed jobs and opportunities to the growing region and stop the former schools from being the eyesore they had become when they were boarded up with their closure.
The Mooroopna campus will house:
Rumbalara Aboriginal Co-operative, meeting the needs of local families and bringing a significant economic boost to the town’s north end Westside Performing Arts Centre and the Coulson Centre, allowing live theatre and sporting uses to continue into the future.
The Wanganui campus will host:
An expanded campus for Verney Road School, broadening its supportive learning initiatives for more families by 2025. Additionally, the Visy Centre will provide fitness facilities and a sports oval for children, while the Scouts and GV Woodworkers buildings will serve as versatile community spaces.
The McGuire campus will be home to:
GOTAFE Trade Training Centre, helping upskill local vocational learners Shepparton Flexible Learning Centre’s head office and main classroom
GSSC’s Intensive Learning and Support Program The new government-owned childcare centre co-located with Wilmot Rd Primary School, to open in 2026.
