THE Wonthaggi Secondary College, McBride Avenue campus, located at the corner of McBride Avenue and Watts Street, closed in 2019. The future of the abandoned site remains uncertain.
Council started pre-feasibility studies in February 2023, expected to be finished by July 2023, so what's causing the delay? Bass Coast Shire Council directed questions to their engage website, which states that detailed pre-feasibility studies are underway. These include thorough assessments of the property’s condition, such as the building’s structural integrity, heritage value, and safety.
The studies aim to identify short, medium, and long-term costs and risks associated with developing the site, ensuring a full understanding of the management expenses. However, the timeline indicates the study is ongoing, and management of the site will only transfer after all pre-feasibility work is completed. But how long will this take?
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale quickly responded to the Sentinel-Times, saying the Council was offered the site years ago. “Council has yet to decide if they want it or not, to the detriment of our Bass Coast and wider community. It is beyond disappointing, as this is a prime parcel of land in town with opportunities galore,” Ms Crugnale said.
“Council have also broached the subject of using part of the land for housing, which we remain open to discussing, including forming partnerships with other agencies such as Bass Coast Health and TAFE Gippsland to develop the site for community and public purposes,” Jordan claimed that years ago, the Council should have said yes. “They should have said, yes, we want this land, taken it onboard, found the funding to clean up the site, developed costings, and a staged masterplan, knowing full well they would be seeking significant contributions from both State and Federal Governments in the tens of millions.”
The Bass Coast Shire Council has confirmed that in the 2025-26 Budget, $350,000 has been allocated to kick-start what will be a multi-year project. This funding will help the council address some complex planning constraints, establish frameworks for negotiations with potential partners and stakeholders, explore land use options, and have further discussions with the State Government before considering the site.
The ongoing issue remains that the council are still ‘considering the site’ over five years on.
The Bass Coast Shire Council is also actively exploring opportunities for external grant funding, which would strengthen this work and facilitate community consultation. The Council has a duty to perform due diligence and ensure that any future use of the site is viable and doesn’t become a future burden for ratepayers. Meanwhile, the site still causes concern for Victoria Police, with past issues of burglaries, squatters, and vandalism. Sergeant Tim Ryan of Wonthaggi Police Station confirmed that incidents on the site come in waves; however, they are not of great concern. “We have had issues with trespassers in the past,” said Sergeant Ryan. “Police will continue to patrol the area to ensure public safety.”
