It's our turn
Since 2016 the State has funded halls at four schools within a few kilometres of us. Here's the case for the same investment in ours.
The ask
Fund a full-size, competition-grade hall and community hub in the 2027–28 State Budget — a promise made to this community years ago, still waiting to be kept.
What it builds
A full-size, competition-grade hall and community sports hub — a school facility by day, a shared community asset every other hour: PE, the arts, OSHC, community sport and an emergency assembly point.
What it costs
~$12–14M — less than 0.01% of the State's $14.9 billion school building program. Shovel-ready: no land to buy, no planning risk.
Why now
Facilities rated Poor. Enrolment capped by indoor space while 6–12 storeys are gazetted next door. Four neighbouring halls state-funded since 2020 — equity is the same treatment, not special treatment.
The Ask — 2027–28 State Budget
$12–14M
A full-size, competition-grade hall and community hub
Sign the petitionEvery neighbouring school got its hall
Two halls built and two under construction within a few kilometres — all state-funded since 2020. Equity is the same investment, not special treatment.
Carnegie PS — opened 2021
Full-sized hall, state-funded and open to community hire.
Glen Huntly PS — opened 2023
Competition-grade hall, state-funded.
Caulfield South PS — building now
Competition-grade hall under construction, state-funded.
Hampton PS — building now
$13.2M competition-grade hall, won by a community campaign just like ours.
Meanwhile, Murrumbeena's facilities are rated Poor — parents fund the repairs, but a new hall is not something sausage sizzles can buy.
Half a hall, in a corridor with none
The demand for indoor courts is real, measured, and growing — and the corridor has nowhere to hire one.
Our hall vs a competition-grade hall — to scale
The 1996 parent-built hall is about half the VSBA competition envelope. 550+ students cannot assemble under one roof — and the building is rated “Poor” (3.1) in the VSBA's own condition data, with failing sub-floor plumbing.
No indoor court for hire in the corridor
The school sits steps from Murrumbeena station, in the middle of the Carnegie–Murrumbeena–Hughesdale–Oakleigh corridor — and not a single bookable indoor court exists along it. Council's multipurpose courts nearby are outdoors; the nearest indoor stadium is GESAC in Bentleigh East, ~4 km away and shared by the whole of Glen Eira.
42
Murrumbeena Netball Club teams — founded by MPS parents, no indoor home
~200
teams play outdoor-only at Duncan McKinnon Reserve (Caulfield & District NA)
220
extra courts Victoria needs now — 25% of games already become “manufactured byes” (Basketball Victoria, 2025)
54.4%
of Murrumbeena homes are flats, apartments or townhouses (state: 26%) — backyards are optional here
What $31.4 million is building around us
Two halls built and two under construction within a few kilometres — all state-funded since 2020.
- Carnegie PSgames hall, $5.5Mopened 2021
- Glen Huntly PSnew gym, $7.12Mopened 2023
- Caulfield South PScompetition-grade gym, $9Munder construction
- Hampton PSgym & performing arts, $9.8Munder construction
- St Kilda PScompetition-grade gym, $13.2Mwon May 2026 — after a sustained community advocacy campaign
Sources: VSBA school project pages; City of Port Phillip, 2026.
Ten years of state funding: the short bar
6% of the funding for ~22% of the students across these four neighbouring schools — ≈$2,500 per MPS student vs ≈$11,200 next door.
State capital funding 2016–2026, VSBA school project pages.
Indoor gym space per student
MPS ranks 22nd of 27 nearby schools for indoor space. Equity is not special treatment — it is the same treatment.
School Council analysis of VSBA enrolment & facilities data, 2025.
Sources: ABS Census 2021 (Murrumbeena) · Basketball Victoria Facility Guidelines 2025 · VSBA facilities & enrolment data · Planning Victoria (GC270).