New start for Mount Lawley Primary School

• School created for fire-affected Mount Lawley Primary School students
• Mount Lawley Primary School to be rebuilt at original site by 2014

Nearly 500 Mount Lawley Primary School students started Term 3 at a temporary site built in the fortnight since fire destroyed their historic Second Avenue campus on July 7-8.

Education Minister Peter Collier today visited students and staff at the interim site on the lower oval of Mount Lawley Senior High School in Woodsome Street, Mount Lawley.

Mr Collier said the facilities would accommodate all the primary school's students and staff until a new school was built at the Second Avenue site in time for the 2014 school year.

"There has been an outstanding effort by staff of the Department of Education, Department of Finance's Building Management and Works, contractors and other agencies to get this school up and running in such a short space of time," he said.

"While any option outside of having the students be able to undertake studies as normal at the old school isn't ideal, I believe that keeping the children together at one site goes a long way to helping them, their parents and staff deal with the tragedy of their school burning down.

"By temporarily locating the primary school at Mount Lawley Senior High School, every primary student from kindergarten to year 7 can attend school as one group, which is what parents want."

The temporary school comprises 15 transportable classrooms; four toilet blocks, including a disabled toilet; an administration area; offices; and storage. Facilities for music and a library will be established during the term. Through RiskCover the school has $400,000 to buy resources for each classroom and help replace personal and school equipment which teachers and students lost in the fire.

Thanks to the assistance of the City of Stirling, students will be able to participate in sport and play at nearby Hamer Park and parking is available behind Hamer Park, with a crossing guard working at school drop-off and pick-times to ensure children's safety.

Eight-five per cent of 100-year-old Mount Lawley Primary School was destroyed in a deliberately lit blaze on the first weekend of the winter school holidays (late on Saturday July 7 and into the early hours of July 8).

The Minister said there had been overwhelming show of support from the community for the school in the aftermath of the fire.

"It is clear that many people feel a deep connection to Mount Lawley Primary School," he said.

      Fact File

• Rebuild estimate of Mount Lawley PS at Second Avenue is $7-9m
• Estimated cost of establishing temporary school $3m

Minister's office - 6552 6300