$6M allocation for SW school upgrading program

18/10/94

Schools in the State's South-West region will receive a total of nearly $6 million in upgrading and additions as part of the Education Department's capital works program.

Education Minister Norman Moore announced details of the package today.

Mr Moore said capital works under construction or due to start in the next six months, ranged from upgrading Margaret River High School at a cost of about $3 million to new library-resource centres at Donnybrook District High School and Dunsborough Primary School.

"This package is part of the Government's on-going commitment to bring schools across our vast State up to contemporary standards," he said.

"There is a big job ahead because of the back-log of maintenance needs inherited by the Government.  However, the issue is being progressively and systematically addressed, based on the priority needs among the 768 schools across the State."

Mr Moore said a block of seven new classrooms would be built at Parkfield Primary School in Australind, at a cost of $1 million.  The school's enrolments had risen over the past few years and this extra permanent accommodation would provide excellent new facilities to replace temporary classrooms.

Cowaramup Primary School would receive additions and improvements worth $400,00. These would include a new administration block and a library-resource centre.

Improvements to the administration facilities at the South Bunbury Primary School would be provided at a cost of $200,000.

An initial provision of $100,000 had been made towards planning for future improvements to Manjimup Senior High School.

An allocation of $560,000 had been made for new library-resource centres at Donnybrook District High School and Dunsborough Primary.  At Donnybrook, the new centre would replace a facility in a temporary classroom, and at Dunsborough, the current library was too small.

A number of schools would have automatic reticulation installed for sports fields and grounds.

The list of projects for the South-West region included Margaret River High School - $3 million additions and upgrade; Parkfield Primary School - $1 million for seven additional classrooms; Cowaramup Primary School - $400,000 upgrade of facilities; Donnybrook District High School - $280,000 library-resource centre; Dunsborough Primary School - $280,000 library-resource centre; Harvey Agriculture Senior High School - $228,300 roof repairs; South Bunbury Primary School - $200,000 upgrade of administration facilities; Manjimup Senior High School - $100,000 planning for future improvements; and Newton Moore Senior High School - $100,000 automatic reticulation for grassed areas.

Others were Fairview Primary School - $65,000 for roof repairs; Northcliffe District High School - $60,000 for automatic reticulation and grassed sports area; Brunswick Primary School - $50,000 for provision of staff toilets; Manjimup Primary School - $13,950 roof repairs; Amaroo Primary School - $35,000 upgraded water supply; Adam Road Pre-Primary School - $12,000 roof repairs.

Media contact:  Ross Storey  321 1444    222 9595