New calls for school gym

A picture used on the petition.

A petition calling on the state government to build a gym at Melton West Primary School has garnered more than 250 signatures.

The current multi-purpose room, where functions and sports classes are held, barely holds the 600 pupils who returned to school last week.

The petition, started by the school on change.org, calls on the government to plan for a gym or hall “where the school cohort can hold assemblies and special events out of the weather”.

The petition asks why Melton West primary is missing out when nearby schools have the facilities.

“It is important for local communities such as ours to be able to gather together,” the petition states.

“But when we don’t have a gym, special events such as the school concert and fete either need to be held outside or at another school (at additional cost to us).

“Community engagement is a vital ingredient for our school, and a gymnasium will strengthen the relationships we have within our community”

A spokesman for Education Minister James Merlino said the school was earmarked to receive about $27,000 from the government’s camps, sports and excursion fund this year.

But he would not say whether the government had plans to build a gym at the school.

Click here to view or sign the petition.