The Victorian Government (Australia), through Treasurer Michael O'Brien, has announced the opening of expressions of interest (EOI) to build 13 new primary schools through PPP model in Melbourne's growth suburbs.

The 13 schools to be delivered under the PPP are:

• Armstrong Creek Primary School
• Armstrong Creek Special School
• Bannockburn Primary School (relocation of the existing school)
• Casey Central East Primary School
• Cranbourne South West Primary School
• Epping North Primary School
• North Geelong Special Development School
• Heather Grove Primary School (in Clyde North)
• Mernda South Primary School
• Mill Park Lakes East Primary School
• Pakenham South West Primary School
• Point Cook South Prep-9
• Torquay North Primary School

The project will be developed on a design, build, finance and maintenance (DBFM) basis. The contract period is 25 years.

The total project investment is estimated at A$223 million.

EOIs are due by 13 November 2014, with detailed tender documents to be released to shortlisted consortia in early 2015.

A contract is expected to be awarded next year and the schools will be built in two tranches. The first group of schools are scheduled to open in time to accept students for the 2017 school year and the second tranche in 2018.

Minister for Education Martin Dixon commented:

The Coalition Government is committed to building better schools and a better education system for all Victorian families. We have invested a record A$9.2 billion in funding for primary and secondary school education in the 2014-15 financial year.

Another school PPP project has been launched in Australia this month. On 8 October we reported that the state government of Western Australia launched a tender process to develop 8 new schools through a public - private partnership (PPP) project. Interested parties must submit their EOIs on or before 5 November 2014.