Catholic schools vision

By Sarah Thompson
PLANS are in train for a further four Catholic schools to be built in Cardinia Shire and the City of Casey by 2016.
Population projections provided by both councils have led to the planning of the schools, with a Catholic primary school forecast for Officer and a Catholic secondary college forecast for Pakenham by 2010.
A further two schools could be developed by 2016.
Executive officer of the Western Development Working Party (WDWP) Dr Jim D’Orsa said that 2225 per cent of Catholic people made up the Berwick, Narre Warren, Cranbourne, IonaMaryknoll and Pakenham region and this, along with the general population projection figures released by both councils, helped the Bishop of Sale Bishop Jeremiah Coffey in deciding to establish the WDWP to prepare for the population increase.
“The purpose of the Western Development Working Party, which brings together the parish priests, principals and catholic education office staff, is to ensure that future development in one area does not hamper another,” Dr D’Orsa said.
The WDWP is in the process of conducting feasibility studies into the schools.
Dr D’Orsa said that a decision on the proposed Pakenham secondary college would be made by the end of the year, but believed it was necessary to take the pressure off St Francis Xavier College.
He also said that a decision had been made in principle to develop the primary school in Officer, with land being negotiated for both of these projects.