‘Disastrous’ Backflip: Truganina School Site to be Axed as Local MP Admits She Didn’t Know

At a meeting on 25 March 2025, Wyndham City Council unanimously voted to oppose a draft planning amendment that would rezone 279 Woods Road, Truganina—a government-owned site set aside for the future Forsyth Creek P–6 School—to residential land. The land was originally designated in the Truganina Precinct Structure Plan as a government primary school site to meet the suburb’s booming population growth.

The change has been proposed by developer Intrapac Ellarook Pty Ltd, and if approved by the Minister for Planning, it would allow the land to be used for housing instead of education. The developer is seeking fast-track approval via Section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, which would bypass public consultation.

Wyndham councillors expressed outrage over the plan and what they say is the State Government’s failure to deliver critical infrastructure.

Cr Preet Singh said:

“I’m very disappointed that this has happened. We should get the local member to lobby the government not to approve this amendment, which would be disastrous for a suburb like Truganina.”

Cr Josh Gilligan described the decision as “a complete act of cowardice”, stating:

“This is a complete act of cowardice by the state government and a dereliction of the duty of the Planning Minister, and it will be the biggest shame of this Minister if she proceeds down the line with the flick of a pen and approves this resolution.”

“For a Labor government to turn its back on a school site and say ‘we will not deliver a government school and we know that over 230 kids are going to be stuck in a portable on a school site with open space’, and there is absolutely nothing they’re going to do about it.”

But perhaps most staggering was the admission from Sarah Connolly, Labor MP for Tarneit, who revealed via social media that she was completely unaware the school site was being abandoned by her own government.

“I was recently made aware about this process. I have deep reservations about the relinquishment of this land. I will be advocating strongly for more community and public spaces for Truganina. I will be urgently raising this with the Minister.”

The revelation has left many in the community stunned. How could a sitting government MP not know that a school within her own electorate, was in the process of being permanently removed from the school network?

Residents online have questioned how the State Government’s local representative could be “recently made aware” of such a significant decision affecting thousands of families.

The Woods Road site had long been listed as essential to meeting local education needs. According to Council’s population data, Truganina’s population is forecast to grow from 34,574 in 2021 to more than 52,800 by 2041. Council-commissioned research found that five government primary schools will be needed in the suburb by 2026, but only four are currently planned.

The Forsyth Creek P–6 School was expected to help meet that shortfall.

Wyndham City’s submission warns that abandoning the school site now would increase pressure on surrounding schools, worsen travel times for families, and reduce local access to education.

The Council is calling on the Minister for Planning to reject the rezoning outright, or at a minimum, ensure it is subject to public exhibition and full consultation with the community.

The matter is currently before the Supreme Court, yet the Minister is still considering whether to use her powers under Section 20(4) to approve the amendment without consultation—prompting further concern from Council and residents over a lack of transparency in the decision-making process.

Wyndham City’s submission was lodged on 26 March 2025, ahead of the deadline set by the Department of Planning and Environment: 5:00pm, Monday 31 March 2025.