NEW buildings will be constructed at Wangaratta High School following the announcement of $11.7 million in the 2025-26 Victorian State Budget on Tuesday.

Two large buildings, the Flexible Learning Centre (FLC) and the senior school area, will be completely redesigned and refitted to meet contemporary and future learning needs under stage one of the school’s masterplan.

WHS principal Dave Armstrong said there will be a new wellbeing centre within an existing building but it will be better located on campus within ideal proximity to all students.

He said more classroom space will be created through the activation of areas that were not used well.

“We’ve been working with amazing architects from multi-national agency GHD," he said.

"The senior building near the Phillipson Street side and the central FLC will have a comprehensive internal rework," Mr Armstrong said.

“This means more classrooms will be built, creating a dynamic use of space and there will be treatments with better acoustics, along with more bespoke and more efficient cooling and heating for each of the classrooms.

“The really smart structured spaces will help students break out and work in small groups, to be coached or tutored.

"They will still be able to have robust debate but it won’t impact on nearby classrooms, so that’s really powerful.

“There will be a lot of study booths to support the number of students in upper secondary, who are doing university subjects through the Centre for Higher Education Studies.

“A lot, but not all, of this is online and it allows students to learn languages and regular study.”

"The year 12s will also have a separate study area and kitchenette."

A 'quadrangle' in the centre of the school was classified by architects as a hardscape, but this will be transformed from concrete and bitumen into a softer space, including native plantings, and grassy spaces that will complement the existing trees.

The project is at tender documentation stage, and once the funding is receipted, WHS will seek a builder for the works which usually takes a few months.

While the timeframe depends on these next steps, Mr Armstrong said he is hopeful for the works to commence in early 2026, but “the sooner the better”.

An unfunded stage two of the masterplan would include the construction of sporting facilities.

Other key announcements in the budget included free public transport across Victoria for people under 18 years old and those 60 and over from 1 January 2026.

Some $175,000 has been granted to Mt Beauty United Cricket Club for new practice nets for the club, and Benalla will receive $150k for netball court resurfacing.

Another $250k will support the continuation of Rural Women's Leadership and Mentoring Program.

The Fox Bounty will be ongoing, costing $9.2m.

Solar rebates will continue, with the government reporting that it will save installers up to $400 a year on energy bills.

Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said, "With this budget – my first as treasurer – we’re focused on what matters most to Victorian families".

"That means real help with the cost of living and more investment in frontline services,” she said. 

Net debt is expected to be $155.5 billion at June 2025 and increase to $185.2 billion by June 2028.

It is then forecast to increase to $194.0 billion by June 2029.

As a proportion of GSP, net debt is projected to be 25.2 per cent at June 2027 before reducing to 25pc by June 2028 and then declining further to 24.9pc by June 2029.

Some estimates indicate the state (taxpayers) will pay $7.6 billion in interest in 2025-26 — or $20.7 million a day.

Those repayments will jump to $10.6 billion annually or $28.9 million a day in three years' time.

The budget includes a $600 million surplus, helped along by the controversial Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund, which will tip $1.6 billion into government coffers in the coming financial year.

The treasurer has promised to save $3.3 billion over the forward estimates by "stripping back inefficiency" in the public service sector.