Page 2076 - Week 07 - Thursday, 4 June 2015
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for teachers and the refurbishment of existing schools. Indeed, as Dr Bourke has pointed out in his question, we will invest a further $18.4 million in major refurbishments at Belconnen High School.
This funding builds on funding already provided in recent budgets and will fulfil our 2012 election commitment to modernise Belconnen High School. Over the years we have worked hard to refine our thinking. The fact that the ACT government will deliver this project at the lowest cost shows that we are serious about ensuring that funds go where they are needed most. We will deliver what is needed, where it is needed.
The funding for Belconnen high will build a new administration building, as well as refurbish the student learning and teaching spaces, bringing them up to contemporary design standards. Wireless access to information technology will be provided. There will be specialist teaching facilities, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. There will be a new administration building for staff, providing a focal point for visitors. This funding will provide improvements in energy and water use and thermal comfort in teaching spaces.
The works will also include outdoor learning spaces, which I spoke about yesterday, which are an important part of any school. The school community will be involved in the designs for the refurbishment works. This will ensure that the new spaces respond to the needs of the end users. When completed, the modernisation works at Belconnen high will support up to 600 students and provide an educational pathway for primary students in this area.
Again, I am proud to be part of the Barr government and will make sure that we support our community in the most vital area of public education.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Dr Bourke.
DR BOURKE: Minister, how will the new specialist science, technology, engineering and maths centre at Caroline Chisholm School help deliver that school a cutting-edge curriculum for students?
MS BURCH: I thank Dr Bourke for his question. In addition to having a focus on STEM subjects through the development and refurbishment of Belconnen high, this government is delivering its commitment to build a new centre at the Caroline Chisholm School, located in my electorate of Brindabella. Caroline Chisholm is the local school quite near me, and I am very proud to be able to deliver that.
The centre for innovation and learning will provide a new facility at Caroline Chisholm senior school for the delivery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It will also provide a professional development venue for undergraduate teachers and postgraduate students to undertake research projects related to learning and teaching.
There is a total of $5.9 million in capital and some recurrent funds. Construction will commence in 2016, with the centre expected to be completed in 2017 for the
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