THE smiles on the faces of students from the Warrnambool Special Developmental School said it all.

After years of battling for a new site to meet the growing demands of the Hyland Street school, Education Minister James Merlino confirmed on Wednesday a new home had finally been secured.

As revealed by The Standard in January, a new school will be built at 189 Wollaston Road, a sprawling 18.5-acre riverside block. It was purchased for $1.24 million from a $5 million commitment in the 2015-16 state budget.

Mr Merlino said the remainder of the funding would be used for planning and design of the new school and the additional money needed to deliver the project would be determined in another budget process.

“We’ll finish this project,” he said. “To come here today, particularly with the kids and announce it – it’s incredibly exciting.

“This is a real priority for myself.”

Principal Robert Dowell described the announcement as a “red letter day” for the school. 

“It’s a beautiful block of land with an existing house on it which will be used as an independent living skills centre and the land goes right down to the Merri River,” Mr Dowell said. “Now we look forward to planning the building.

“Our school is obviously overcrowded but we make do with what we’ve got. 

“We do the best we can and I think we do it well.”

Mr Dowell said the new facility will have much more land and more playing room.

UPDATE 2PM: The state government has confirmed Warrnambool Special Developmental School will move to Wollaston Road.

Education minister James Merlino and Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney confirmed the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development had bought a 18.5 acre site on Wollaston Road, as revealed by The Standard in January. 

The state government committed $5 million in the 2015-16 budget to fund the first stage of the relocation project, which includes buying the land and planning the new site. 

The pair  visited the new site on Wednesday with Mr Merlino saying it was an exciting first step. 

“For too long Warrnambool Special Development School has been bursting at the seams. I am proud that the Andrews Labor Government has delivered on this important commitment,” Mr Merlino said.

“We’re investing almost $4 billion to make Victoria the Education State, so every community has access to great local schools and every child gets the chance to succeed.”

EARLIER: Education Minister James Merlino is expected to formally announce the new site for Warrnambool’s Special Developmental School later today.

The Standard reported in January that the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development had bought a 18.5 acre site on Wollaston Road.

Mr Merlino will visit the Hyland Street site school to meet with staff and students. He will also tour Woolsthorpe Primary School and Koroit and District Primary School.