Within minutes on Thursday afternoon, both the state government and the opposition had publicly pledged to see the upgrade of the Warrnambool Special Developmental School through.

Education Minister James Merlino announced an “early Christmas present” of $14.6 million for a new school just minutes after opposition education spokesman Tim Smith said that if elected next year, a Liberal government would fully fund a new school too.

“A Liberal government will get the job done and build a new Warrnambool Special Developmental School,” Mr Smith said.

Politics aside, Warrnambool SDS school council president Jay Everall welcomed the news.

“We are super excited that both sides of politics have taken the approach that it needs to be done,” he said.

”It allows us to be well aware if there happens to be a change of government, we’ve still got that commitment.”

Mr Everall said the timing of the announcement was a great way to finish the school year.

“I want to thank the school council, the general community and everyone involved ... for their support and advice,” he said.

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said she was pleased with the outcome, and it had been an easy case to make to Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.

“It means that the children will have the education environment that every child should have,” she said.

Mrs Britnell said the end result was important.

“How this has happened doesn’t matter,” she said.

“I’m proud to have made this announcement if that has resulted in Labor coming out and making the announcement as well.”