Bairnsdale Secondary College’s student numbers are set to soar next year, with 255 year sevens enrolling to attend in 2025.
This will bring the total number of students at the college to around 1245, with more than 200 staff also working at the campus, making it the biggest number of students the school has ever seen.
The increase will also see a jump in foot traffic going between the new campus on McKean Street and the old Wallace Street campus, which is still used for some classes.
While principal, Tony Roberts, is thrilled with the increase in students, his concern has turned to the safety of both students and the general public.
A portion of the school is located across from the local wetlands, with a footpath running around it, allowing the public to walk around the wetlands.
This also means members of the public have direct and easy access to the school grounds, with a number of incidents causing concern for students and staff.
“It’s not just about keeping our students safe, but the public too,” Mr Roberts said.
To help reduce the problem, the school is proposing they erect two gates at each end of the footpath, which would be closed on school days between 9am and 3pm in a bid to prevent members of the public accessing the school grounds.
A notice will be erected on the gates to allow the public to give feedback.
