Construction of new Port Hedland Primary School at Cooke Point on track

23/2/98

Construction of the new $7 million Port Hedland Primary School, at Cooke Point, is now into its final stages.

The school's roof is on and work is well under way on the internal fittings of all the buildings.

Education Minister Colin Barnett said today the project was on schedule for students from both the existing Cooke Point and Port Hedland primary schools to move to their new campus in April.

Cooke Point Principal Jim Bell will take up the reins of the combined new school when it opens on April 28, at the start of second term.

Mr Barnett said the design of the fully airconditioned school incorporated state-of-the-art computer facilities for students and staff, with fibre optic cabling enabling every classroom to be linked to the Internet and an internal communications network.

Almost $250,000 was to be spent on computer technology and plans included providing a facility where parents could learn about computers, in order to keep up with their children.

As well as 14 classrooms and two pre-primary classrooms, the facilities would include an art/craft centre - incorporating a kiln room, a music room, covered assembly area and canteen. A dental therapy centre would be located in one of the three general classroom blocks.

The administration centre included a waiting and reception area with offices for the principal, deputy principals and registrar, a sick bay and an interview room. Nearby was a library resource centre and staff room.

A parents' parking area was to be provided to the north-west of the school site, adjacent to community facilities and the playing fields.

The Minister said industrial growth around the old Port Hedland Primary School had seen its student enrolments decline over recent years. In addition, its location near the ocean had resulted in severe deterioration of the re-inforced concrete used in the buildings. It had become uneconomic to maintain.

The concept for a new combined school had been developed in consultation with both school communities and announced by the Minister in October, 1996, after a visit to Port Hedland. It presented the opportunity to replace two ageing schools with facilities appropriate for education in the 21st century.

Disposal of the Cooke Point land would have a further benefit for the new school, as it was expected that it would provide much needed new housing sites for the community and, subsequently, new students as more families moved to the area. The current Port Hedland Primary School site would be handed over to the Department of Land Administration for sale for either residential or commercial development.

Proceeds from the sale of the old Port Hedland school site and the area where the current Cooke Point school stood would be put towards the new school.

In order to provide the best possible sporting facilities for students, the Education Department had entered into a special agreement with the Port Hedland Shire Council to share maintenance and operating costs of the town oval as a joint facility for the school and the wider community.

Mr Barnett said the changes to primary school facilities had also been the catalyst for providing new premises for the Port Hedland School of the Air.

The Education Department would contribute $1 million to a joint development with the Royal Flying Doctor Service at the Port Hedland airport. Both the School of the Air and the RFDS would have their own specialist facilities within the complex and share areas such as a lecture theatre.

More details about this development are due to be announced soon.

Media contact: Justine Whittome, Minister for Education (08) 9222 9699

Penny Valentine - Education Department (08) 9264 5348