Press Release by Michael Matthews

M I C H A E L M A T T H E W S                                                                             PO Box 1351

Healesville 3777

Victoria Australia

Press Release

Contact: Michael Matthews

Phone: 0448 470 111

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4 P.M. EDT, October 9th, 2012

MATTHEWS SUPPORTS SAVING SWINBURNE

Independent council candidate for Yarra Ranges Ryrie Ward, Michael Matthews, has joined with other independent council candidates to support efforts to develop an Education Precinct on the former Swinburne TAFE and University Campus in Lilydale.

Mr. Matthews, along with Alister Osborn in Melba Ward, Maria McCarthy for Billanook and Jim Child in O’Shannassy Ward, said he supported Council’s CEO Glenn Patterson, who is leading the way in efforts to seek interest from potential education providers.

“It is good to see a Council officer standing up for what is in the best interests of the community,” Mr. Matthews said.

“I am concerned that some Councilors have not been interested enough in the most important issues facing our local community: education for our children and future generations, the hard infrastructure needed to support our growing population, and ensuring we get value from money for our council rates.

“The coming election provides an opportunity for a new Council with a new start, which can better represent the community’s interests and needs.”

The campus was compulsorily acquired by the State of Victoria for approximately $3 million in 1993 and gifted to Swinburne for tertiary education in the outer east, and the vast majority of the buildings on the site were funded by the State and Federal Governments.

Mr. Matthews said now Swinburne was seeking to walk away from the site and attempting to obtain a substantial financial windfall from selling the site leaving the people of the Yarra Ranges and the most disadvantaged parts of the outer east without a local higher education provider.

“How will a tertiary institution located in Hawthorn cater for the needs of the population of the outer east, the Indigenous population and people with accessibility needs?” Mr. Matthews asked.

“Higher education can be a life changer, it allows aspirations and having a local education provider is vital for many people if they are to build a better future.

Mr. Matthews and his fellow independent Council Candidates have called for the continued use of the Lilydale education precinct for the delivery of tertiary, vocational and community education services for the outer east.

Independent Candidates Alister Osborn and Maria McCarthy are working with community members including School Principals and Council Officers on the Yarra Ranges Educational Precinct Committee.   A plan has been mooted to bring new providers of University and TAFE courses to Lilydale incorporating a site development plan which will also create quality community infrastructure.

Mr Matthews and his fellow candidates understand by working together we can stand up for the Yarra

Ranges community and ensure the site remained a place of education and training.

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Authorised by M Matthews 6 Christie Parade Healesville 3777 Victoria