Old fire station should be donated to Warrnambool Primary school, says Napthine

The 3628-square metre Raglan Parade site, which used to home Warrnambool's fire station, is set to be auctioned on March 26.

But former Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said it was "ludicrous" that the site was not going to Warrnambool Primary School.

"We know that 'Jammo' is overcrowded and there are constraints on enrolment, playground activity and building programs because they're absolutely landlocked," he said.

"We've got a growing, thriving community in Warrnambool and people want to send their kids to Jammo but they can't. Surely the logical thing is to hand over the adjoining land to the local school, rather than sell it off to the highest bidder."

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Mr Napthine said there were plenty of other positions for businesses to grow in Raglan Parade, as well as in other areas of Warrnambool.

"There's the old Standard site, there's plenty of car yards and other opportunities for businesses to move into or to expand, but this land should really be going straight to Jammo," he said.

"Jammo has been short of space for at least 20 years. Why sell off prime land for a fast food outlet or otherwise, when the school right next door is desperate for space?".

Mr Napthine said it was "very short-sighted" of the state government to not take advantage of such a unique opportunity.

"Being the premier of the state, anytime there was a school site in Melbourne available, the local community would put their hand up and say 'we want that land for something' and this is an ideal case here in Warrnambool," he said.

"I can guarantee that if this was in Albert Park or Fitzroy, there's no way the state government would be able to sell it to the highest bidder. This is a classic case of a city-centric government not looking after the needs of the local Warrnambool community."

Warrnambool Primary School principal Peter Auchettl said the land could only be received open-handed.

"Of course the school would be interested if the land was received philanthropically but the authorities can do what they want with the land," he said.

A state government spokeswoman said Warrnambool Primary School had "sufficient learning areas to meet 2021 enrolments".

"There are currently 439 students enrolled at the school, and the school has the capacity to accommodate 525 students," she said.

"The Victorian government recently delivered a $739, 000 architect-designed modular building to Warrnambool Primary School, the school also received a minor capital works grant of $145,000 last year."

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