Page 3005 - Week 07 - Thursday, 30 June 2011
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MR BARR: As I indicated in my previous answer, there are significant capital works projects underway across schools in the territory. Work is about to begin at Red Hill primary school, where $7.35 million is going towards delivering six new classrooms, including some shared learning spaces, a new school car park and traffic flow improvements, landscaping, some lease separation works for the French-Australian preschool, a new school entry and administrative area and toilet refurbishment, and new carpet and painting for the early childhood wing.
Work is also beginning on the performing arts centre at Canberra college in Woden. This $9.3 million facility will be used as a learning and performing space by students from the college, as well as, of course, by surrounding schools in the Woden Valley and the local Woden community. It will include seating for more than 180, specialist studios for dance, music and drama, and improvements to existing access roads and car parks.
The 2011-12 budget builds on ACT Labor’s record of high and well-targeted investments to upgrade our public schools. Some other examples in the budget also include a near $2 million fund to upgrade and refurbish the hydrotherapy pool at the Malkara school. This investment will provide a modern, safe and therapeutic facility for students with a disability. It will help further engage their parents in their education and assist community organisations working with adults with disabilities.
The government also continues its upgrading of information and communication technology facilities in all ACT public schools. There is a $2.6 million ICT investment fund in the budget that will deliver more interactive whiteboards, more new computers, more wireless access points and upgraded network infrastructure across the public school system. These are just some of the important works being delivered by this government in public schools to ensure that every ACT student has access to the highest quality education.
MR SPEAKER: A supplementary, Dr Bourke?
DR BOURKE: Minister, in the course of monitoring and developing the programs you have outlined, have you become aware of community views in relation to these programs?
MR BARR: There is no doubt that Labor’s drive to further improve education in this city has widespread community support. There is not a school community, government or non-government, in this city that has not benefited from some combination of the federal government’s building the education revolution program and the ACT government’s capital works upgrades. There is not a school community, government or non-government, that has not benefited from our election commitment to provide support for parent groups by topping up their fundraising efforts with a $15,000 grant for primary school parent associations and a $1,500 grant for preschool parent associations. There is not a single school community in the city that has not welcomed the additional boost in funding for education being considered in this place later today.
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