The State Government has announced upgrades and extensions to student boarding facilities across Western Australia as part of a $7.6million investment outlined in the 2014-15 State Budget.
Education Minister Peter Collier and Regional Development Minister Terry Redman visited Narrogin today to announce a $1.4million Royalties for Regions-funded upgrade to Narrogin Residential College.
Merredin Residential College and Esperance Residential College will also receive upgrades with the funding provided by the Royalties for Regions program. Mr Collier said Narrogin was one of the largest residential colleges in the State.
"Its old-fashioned dormitory style accommodation will be converted into individual rooms for female students," he said.
"Access to high quality boarding facilities encourages parents in regional and remote areas to send their children to secondary schools closer to home."
Mr Redman said Royalties for Regions had already provided $51.9million to upgrade and refurbish regional residential colleges.
"The Government's continued investment in residential colleges in 2014-15 is a vital part of our commitment to regional WA and it is having a positive impact on families and children," he said.
"Regional communities reap financial and social benefits when families choose to remain in the area and use local services such as residential colleges. Education and training opportunities are important considerations for people choosing to work and live in regional WA."
Fact File
There are eight country residential colleges in Albany, Broome, Esperance, Geraldton, Merredin, Moora, Narrogin and Northam, and one in Perth for country students
The colleges accommodated 584 students throughout the 2013 school year
Merredin Residential College (stage two) new works: $3.9million new single bedrooms to increase student boarding capacity from 48 to 72 places
Esperance Residential College (stage two) new works: $2.3million to increase the number of individual bedrooms from 50 to 94 and provide 20 beds in shared rooms; total capacity will remain at 114
Narrogin Residential College new works: $1.4million to convert a two storey 32-bed dormitory into 22 individual rooms for female students and upgrade indoor recreation facilities
Since the program started in 2008, Royalties for Regions has allocated more than $4.2billion to more than 3,500 regional development projects across regional WA
WA Budget statements are available at http://ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Education Minister's office - 6552 6300
Regional Development Minister's office - 6552 6700
