THE amalgamation of Sale College has moved a step closer, with Wellington Shire Council agreeing to sell about eight hectares of land to the Victorian School Building Authority.

In 2021-22, the state government allocated a budget of $3 million to the VSBA to determine the best location to build a new consolidated Sale College campus. At Tuesday’s council meeting, councillors resolved to sell land to the VSBA.

A parcel of land on the corner of Cobains and Gibsons Rds was selected as a preferred site following consultation between the VSBA, Sale College and the council.

The land has been council-owned since 2011 and was purchased for the purpose of providing future sporting infrastructure, given that the Gippsland Regional Sports Complex is on the opposite side of Cobains Rd. The land has historically been used for grazing and is surrounded by Farm Zone.

Central Ward councillor Scott Rossetti said at the August 20 council meeting that in 2018, the council realised the land would be significant for the community. He said its size (8.583 hectares) opened up many options.

With GRSC located on adjacent land, Cr Rossetti said additional sports ovals were the obvious option, however, when the state government expressed interest in utilising a portion of the land, he said council was “thrilled” to accommodate the project.

“We had been through many different options and iterations with them, with other blocks of land that might have suited, but ultimately, this block of land suited their needs,” Cr Rossetti said.

“For us to be able to assist as a council the state government to look to amalgamating those schools is a fantastic outcome. And to also have the schools and that whole community having access directly to the Gippsland Regional Sports Centre, just activates that whole area. So, it really is a win-win.

“We look forward to ultimately a shovel going in there and the amalgamation of those two school sites. It’s a terrific outcome.”

Wellington Shire mayor Ian Bye mirrored these sentiments, saying it was a “great outcome” and the future project was “quite exciting”.

Progressing this sale will support current and future education services within Sale and districts and ensure future development can occur where drainage and sporting infrastructure outcomes are maintained.

It won’t be the first time Sale College has merged schools. When it was founded in 1996, two of the state’s oldest country schools, Macalister Secondary College (established 1885) and Sale High School (established 1907), came together to form the college.

At present, Sale College has two campuses. The Macalister Campus, on Macalister St, hosts all year 10 and VCE students, while the Guthridge Campus, located on Guthridge Parade, hosts students from years seven to nine.

While the budget for the construction of the new school has not yet been allocated, the VSBA has confirmed that a budget exists to complete the land purchase. According to the meeting agenda, the VBSA would seek funding to complete the construction of the school “at some future point” after it buys the land.

The Victorian government funds school infrastructure projects in stages, with funding often allocated across one or more budget cycles. When recommending the allocation of funding to school infrastructure projects, the VSBA assess pre-existing project plans and condition assessments.

“The needs of all schools are considered when determining priorities for school infrastructure spending in future State Budgets,” a Department of Education spokesperson told the Gippsland Times.

“Discussions between Wellington Shire Council and the VSBA are continuing.”

It says in the agenda that the proceeds from the sale will directly fund road projects in the area. These include widening sections of Cobains Rd and constructing a new intersection at Gibsons and Cobains Rds. Budgeting for this will be included (or updated) in the council’s capital works budget.