Victorian Minister for Education James Merlino on Friday night approved the community-funded project at Belvoir Special School after a nine-month impasse. 

“This is a unique construction contract for the Department and we have been working closely with the school, Rotary clubs and contractor to resolve outstanding issues,” he said.

“An exemption has been granted to normal contract conditions so that this important project can get under way.

“While this is not the typical process, we recognise the Life Skills House project is a great and valuable opportunity for the school and we look forward to working with the community on its delivery.”

The Life Skills House is a joint venture between Belvoir Special School and the Rotary Clubs of Belvoir-Wodonga, Wodonga Central, Wodonga West and Albury-Wodonga Sunrise at no cost to the government.

Rotary Club of Belvoir-Wodonga president Trevor Pearce on Friday night welcomed the decision after months of delays, which had ended in a stalemate with the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA).

The VSBA had sought a bank guarantee, which would have come at an extra cost to the volunteer builder or service clubs. 

“Hopefully the wheels have finally started to move forward,” Mr Pearce said.

The Life Skills House plans were submitted to Wodonga Council in October 2017 before a letter of consent was sought from the Education Department in line with the council approval process. 

Mr Pearce said building could start on the Skills House within weeks of approval.

“Unfortunately we could be building in the middle of winter when we were hoping to be building over last Christmas,” he said.

Earlier on Friday the member for Benambra, Bill Tilley, described the Skills House impasse as like an episode of Yes Minister.

“We have correspondence with Labor’s Education Minister James Merlino going back to October last year where he has described the project as a ‘fine example of government and community cooperation’, that he was ‘keen to support the project’ and just two weeks ago as an ‘exciting project’ whose support was demonstrated by the community involvement,” he said.

“At each and every impasse the Minister appears to be getting the ‘all is well’ from his department.

“And yet whether it be the red tape around who could give it the green light back in December, the lack of progress up to May or now the draconian conditions being put on a builder who has volunteered time and resources, the team trying to put this together are continually frustrated.”

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