Page 1168 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 10 April 2018
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expansions across the ACT, such as at Amaroo School, which involves a 300-place, multipurpose classroom and gym extension. Other schools include Aranda primary, Garran primary and Telopea School, as well as Yarralumla primary. There are $500,000 of disability access works at Alfred Deakin High School, to enable improved accessibility to music rooms; heat mitigation works at Gungahlin College, as well as at Telopea School; and external learning environments to provide landscaping, play equipment and outdoor classrooms. Nearly $9 million worth of works have been completed as part of the public school infrastructure upgrades program. The government is also delivering school infrastructure investment through dedicated initiatives.
A range of capacity expansions in Gungahlin as part of $24 million of investment include additional transportable classrooms at Gold Creek School junior campus, providing 50 places; additional transportable classrooms at Neville Bonner Primary School, providing 200 places; and modifications to learning spaces at Palmerston Primary School, providing 75 places.
At the start of term 1, the $5.7 million Caroline Chisholm Centre for Innovation and Learning became available for use. I look forward to formally opening that facility and seeing some of the student work soon. There are also early works and new roof works as part of a significant $23.5 million modernisation of Belconnen High School.
MR STEEL: Minister, what are some of the other school infrastructure projects underway?
MS BERRY: Since the 2016 ACT election and before, the ACT Education Directorate has been working hard to deliver the school infrastructure that ACT public school students need. In addition to the completed projects I have mentioned, many projects that will be completed over the coming year are underway. For example, in Gungahlin, work is rapidly progressing on the amazing new school in Taylor. I encourage members to take a drive up Horse Park Drive and check out the $32 million facility as it takes shape.
At Mount Stromlo High School and Erindale College important roof replacements are underway that will improve comfort and support the longevity of these schools. The government is providing Narrabundah Early Childhood School with a new appropriate cultural space in support of the school’s reconciliation action plan. The Woden School will be able to support its Year 11 and 12 students better with new classroom facilities that will soon be available for use.
Many more projects are either underway or in planning. The Education Directorate is doing a great job working within the ACT school communities to identify and meet their infrastructure needs. I look forward to continuing to update the Assembly as further school infrastructure projects get underway and are completed.
MS CODY: Minister, why is the government investing in school infrastructure?
MS BERRY: During the ACT election in 2016 the government committed $85 million in capital upgrades for Canberra’s public primary schools, high schools
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