Minister for Education Martin Dixon today announced $200 million for school capital projects as part of the 2012-13 Victorian Budget.

Mr Dixon said the Victorian Coalition Government was delivering on its election commitments for school infrastructure investment.

"The Coalition Government is making significant investment in high-priority capital works projects in this year's Budget to secure the future of our schools, create jobs and drive local economies," Mr Dixon said.

"These include a new school in the Hume growth area, the first stage of a promised new school for students with autism spectrum disorder in the western region and a number of major building projects at regional schools.

"Galvin Park Secondary College will also receive a $14 million upgrade after 11 years of neglect by Labor," Mr Dixon said.

• A total of $86 million has been set aside to meet the Coalition Government's election commitments for school capital projects, including:
• $10.5 million for new learning areas, gym and administration area at Ashwood Secondary College;
• $10 million for a modernisation project and new learning areas at Bairnsdale Secondary College;
• $10 million for Stage 1 construction of new learning areas at Phoenix P-12 Community College – formerly Ballarat South Community Learning Precinct;
• $7 million for modernisation of Castlemaine Secondary College to bring two campuses together on one site;
• $7.5 million for new specialist learning areas at Mirboo North Secondary College in Gippsland;
• $5.4 million for Stage 1 of new facilities at the Belvoir Wodonga Special Developmental School; and
• $1 million for the upgrade and refit of science labs in three secondary schools.

Mr Dixon said the Coalition had also doubled the School Improvement Fund to $20 million in response to its School Condition Audit.

"Funding will be provided to schools identified as highest priority for urgent works following completion of the audit," Mr Dixon said.

Other initiatives include:

• $10 million to build the new Doreen South Primary School to cater for families in Melbourne's booming northern growth corridor and to relieve enrolment pressures at nearby Laurimar Primary School;
• an additional $20.3 million to buy land for future schools in Connewarre, Cranbourne South West and Epping North, and to enable a site extension at Derinya to support new provision capacity as Victoria grows; and
• $9.3 million for new modern relocatable classrooms to give greater enrolment flexibility in schools across the state.

A further $64.4 million has been allocated for schools in need of urgent upgrades and building projects, including:

• $14 million for an extensive refurbishment and upgrade of buildings at Galvin Park Secondary College;
• $15 million to build Stage 2 of Boronia K-12 College, which will include new classrooms, specialist spaces and refurbishment of the library and primary classrooms;
• $10 million for new learning areas and an administration area at Wodonga Senior Secondary College;
• $8.3 million for the construction of two P-8 campuses of Northern Bay P-12 College at Wexford Road and Peacock Avenue;
• $5 million for construction of new primary school buildings at Ouyen P-12 College;
• $5 million for new learning areas and an administration area at Golden Square Primary School in Bendigo; and
• $4 million for Stage 3 of the Laverton P-12 College regeneration project, including redevelopment of gym facilities and playing areas.

In addition to the $4 million regeneration funding at Laverton P-12 College, $4 million allocated in the 2011-12 Budget for Western Autistic School Modernisation (Niddrie) for Prep to Year 3 will now be redirected to commence construction of a P-12 autistic school, co-located on-site.

The funding builds on previous plans to extend the Western Autistic School in response to the growing need for autism services in Melbourne's west.

"This Budget is about investing in a record state infrastructure spend to drive economic activity, productivity and jobs," Mr Dixon said.

"We are taking the responsible and necessary approach to improve our schools, while rebuilding the state's finances as Victoria faces real and serious economic challenges."

Mr Dixon said the $200 million funding for school capital projects built on the $208 million for school capital projects delivered in the 2011-12 Victorian Budget and complemented the $100 million school maintenance fund.