$103M capital works program for schools announced

11/4/97

Major building programs will begin at 27 Western Australian schools in the Education Department's $103 million capital works program announced in the 1997-98 State Budget.

Education Minister Colin Barnett said today that in addition to the new projects, work already in progress would be completed at a further 37 schools.

Many more schools were included in special programs to provide new facilities such as library resource centres, administration upgrades, covered assembly areas and toilet replacements.

New projects would comprise more than $47 million of the capital works program and work in progress was expected to cost more than $56 million.

"The Government is committed to providing the best possible facilities for WA students and this requires a continual program of renewal and upgrades," Mr Barnett said.

"Many of our schools dating from the 1960s and 1970s are in need of revitalisation.

"Through a growing capital works budget, we are bringing as many schools as possible each year up to the standards suiting the education programs required by students at the threshold of the 21st century."

Mr Barnett said that in the $47 million new capital works budget, a total of $7.9 million had been allocated to begin the construction of additional stages at high schools.

The third $13 million stage of Ballajura Community College would begin during the coming financial year. It is expected that work undertaken in 1997-98 will cost $4.4 million and the remainder would be completed in 1998-99.

The second stages of both Clarkson and Warnbro Community high schools would also start later this year. An allocation of $1.5 million had been made for the Clarkson building program and $1 million for Warnbro. Each project was expected to cost $5 million over two years.

Major additions costing $3 million would begin at Broome Senior High School.

Applecross, Armadale, Balga and Newman senior high schools and Cyril Jackson senior campus were to have improvements and upgrades. Projects to provide new administration facilities and a general upgrade would start at Greenwood, Mirrabooka and Rockingham senior high schools and a $900,000 additions program would begin at Eastern Hills Senior High School.

Boddington, Southern Cross and Wyalkatchem district high schools were all to have upgrades, while additions would begin at York District High School.

A $5 million project to provide new secondary facilities would get under way at Denmark district high school.

Three primary schools were to have additional classroom blocks - Coogee, Mundaring and O'Connor, in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. These projects would be completed for the start of the 1998 school year. The total cost for all three would be $2.4 million.

Additions were also planned for Dardanup and Bakers Hill primary schools. Upgrades would begin at Glen Forrest, Mount Pleasant, Palmyra and Allendale (Geraldton) primary schools.

Mr Barnett said that the Education Department's $56 million capital works in progress budget would include a $20 million allocation to complete five new primary schools in 1998 - Atwell (near Jandakot), Carey Park (Bunbury), Cloverdale, Cooke Point (Port Hedland) and East Busselton.

Major additions would also be completed at a cost of $1.46 million at Australind Senior High School to cater for increased enrolments.

Major extensions and improvements would also be completed at:

·      Albany, Busselton, Churchlands, Como, Esperance, Hollywood, Kent Street, Kwinana, Lockridge, Maddington, Manjimup, Margaret River, Mount Barker, Narrogin, NewtonMoore, Perth Modern and Willetton senior high schools and Tuart College;

·      Bullsbrook, Gingin, Jurien, Mount Magnet and Quairading district high schools; and -

·      Anzac Terrace (Bassendean), Boyanup, East Manjimup, North Parmelia, Subiaco, Swanbourne, Wanneroo and Yakamia primary schools.

Mr Barnett also said the Government would increase the amount allocated to the Education Department's roof replacement program, from $1 million to $4 million each year for the next five years.

He said that all asbestos cement roofs would be replaced and all other roofs - aluminium, colourbond, tile and zincalum - would be inspected and replaced if necessary.

A major boost to school security would begin, with an extra $700,000 allocated over four years to the School Watch program and an additional $400,000 to provide security alarm systems in 1997-98.

Media contact: Justine Whittome (09) 222 9699