Page 1402 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 5 June 2007
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been transformed to reflect its past glory. The judges found that all the work carried out exceeded the expectations of the client and met the requirements of the ACT Heritage Council. The judges said that the project and the attention to detail were worthy of recognition and they considered the job exceptional. Modern Plaster was recognised in the conservation and heritage restoration category. The judges noted that they were the clear winner, given the care, commitment and quality demonstrated in the completed project.
I can say that the staff and students at Ainslie primary school are extremely proud of the way the school looks. I know that the principal, Ms Jo Padgham, is glowing in her praise of the work that was undertaken. The official opening of the Ainslie primary school refurbishment will take place on 9 September, to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the school’s opening. This event will be a great opportunity to inspect this world-class education facility and to celebrate public education. Ainslie primary school is once again a jewel in the crown of the ACT public school system. It is proof of what a government can do, of the sorts of outcomes that a government that is committed to investing in our public education system can achieve.
Ainslie primary was not the only public school facility that received recognition at the MBA awards. The reconstruction of the Birrigai outdoor school was nominated in the commercial building of $3 million to $6 million category in recognition of the project managers, GE Shaw and Associates. I am sure that those amongst us who had the opportunity to attend the opening of Birrigai or the community open day that was held at the end of last year will have seen the fantastic work that has been done in rebuilding the Birrigai outdoor school.
Birrigai was burnt to the ground in 2003 and the consultative group has worked hard since then to develop a master plan for the re-establishment of the buildings. The complex consists of an administration block, accommodation cabins, learning areas and a refurbished kitchen and dining hall. The environmentally sustainable buildings used local materials where possible and were designed by architects from the firm Collard Clarke Jackson.
The buildings showcase the latest technology in sustainable design and have become part of the learning experience at Birrigai. For example, the electronic building management system ensures minimal energy wastage by controlling the heating and cooling systems. Birrigai is once again a centre of excellence for outdoor education and for teaching young people about sustainability. The quality of the facilities is a great example—another great example—of what can be built with community support and government investment.
It is that sort of investment, which the shadow minister labels as throwing good money after bad, that was recognised by the master builders association on Friday night at a function attended by 1,700 people. The firms that were involved in the redevelopment work and the rebuilding of Birrigai and the firms that were involved in the refurbishment of Ainslie primary school deserve our congratulations on a fantastic job. It is just the beginning of the government’s commitment to public education to create world-class education environments by investing in our schools. It is investing significantly, more than any government has in the history of self-government in the ACT, to ensure that there are first-class learning environments and the opposition has opposed every step the government has taken in delivering these outcomes.
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