Ellenbrook and Busselton primary schools start term in new premises

19/7/98

Two Government primary schools will open their doors in brand new state-of-the-art premises this week as Western Australia's 350,000 students return to school for third term.

Education Minister Colin Barnett said today that both Ellenbrook and Busselton primary schools had moved to new sites during the schools holidays. The schools would be the fourth and fifth new primary schools to open in WA this year.

The new Ellenbrook school, in Woollybush Road, replaces WA's first successful 'school in houses' project which opened at the start of the 1996 school year in seven modified homes in a growing housing estate to the north-east of Perth.

The temporary accommodation formed a village-style school in the community until enrolments - now at 320 - justified the construction of permanent facilities.

Busselton Primary School's 610 students have moved out of their old and cramped buildings in the town's central business district to a freshly completed 15-classroom school located in Armitage Street, East Busselton.

Mr Barnett said both new schools had state-of-the-art facilities, appropriate for children being educated for life in the 21st century. The new Ellenbrook school had been completed at a cost of $3.5 million and Busselton primary had cost $4.8 million.

"Apart from a different number of classrooms - Busselton has 15 and Ellenbrook 12 - both schools have been provided with similar facilities," he said.

"This includes fibre optic cabling throughout to enable the use of the most up-to-date computer technology and Internet connections to every classroom if required.

"Both have double pre-primary centres, a music room, an art/craft room and a library resource centre, in addition to an administration block and staff facilities.

"Each school also has a covered assembly area and canteen, with a store for sports equipment. Versatile sports hardcourts and cricket practice nets are also provided for students, adjacent to reticulated ovals."

Ellenbrook Primary School will share its oval with the Shire of Swan as a joint community facility. The old Busselton Primary School site, currently surrounded by business and commercial properties in the centre of the town, will be sold on behalf of the Education Department by the Department of Land Administration. The proceeds of the sale would be offset against the cost of the new school.

The seven houses at Ellenbrook, which formed the school's original home, will revert to residential purposes.

Mr Barnett said the Government was committed to continuing to provide modern educational facilities for students around the State.

"Our children deserve the very best in education that the Government can provide," he said.

"I am delighted that two more new primary schools are opening in the State this year, making our total commitment to the five new primary schools more than $22 million.

"As well, three other new primary schools are currently under construction in Landsdale, Ranford Estate in Canning Vale, and Burekup.

"I am sure our young students will be very excited to move into their brand new schools this week and I wish them, the school's staff and the local communities every success."

Media contacts: Hartley Joynt, Minister for Education, 9321 1444

John Altham, Education Department of WA, (08) 9264 4667