Harvey Agriculture College to move farming operations to Wokalup research station

20/8/99
Harvey Agricultural College will move its farming operations to Agriculture WA's nearby research station at Wokalup under an historic purchase agreement between the parties.
Education Minister Colin Barnett and Primary Industry Minister Monty House announced the plans today.
Mr Barnett said the college's practical rural education programs, which had been provided at the site since 1953, had been restricted by the size of the property.
"They would have been further hampered when the Water Corporation built its new dam at Harvey which will take up 35 per cent of the college's land," he said.
"However discussions with Agriculture WA have led to an agreement for the farm operations to relocate to its Wokalup Research Station."
Residential and classroom facilities will be retained at the Harvey site and students will be transported the short distance to Wokalup by bus.
The Education Department will sell its current site and use the money to partially compensate Agriculture WA for the transfer of its land. Some of the Wokalup site will also be sold in the future to help fund the transfer.
Mr House said the agricultural agency would continue its research at Wokalup with other research being carried out at its Manjimup and Vasse centres, or on commercial properties in the region.
There was also potential for further trial work to be conducted as an adjunct to the college's teaching programs.
Mr Barnett said the newly sited Harvey Agricultural College would be one of the State's leading colleges for young people who wanted to pursue a career in our important agricultural industry.
"We expect that the relocation to Wokalup will expand the training opportunities and allow for links to further education and training at universities and TAFE," he said.
"Both Murdoch and Curtin universities have expressed interest in developing programs at the college in the near future which is very exciting."
A state-of-the-art dairy and an abattoir costing $500,000 will be incorporated in the new campus, which will cater for 65 students. Training programs for the meat industry will be accelerated while alliances are formed with Curtin and Murdoch universities to establish student programs.
Mr Barnett also announced the reclassification of Harvey Senior High School to a Year 8 to 10 school from next year.
"Year 11 and 12 students who are now at the school will be able to finish their studies at the school and graduate this year and next year.
"Educational resources for senior students are limited because of dwindling numbers so a decision was made that from next year, year 11 students and subsequent year 11 and 12 students will have the option of travelling to Australind, Newton Moore or Bunbury senior high schools," he said.
"Year 10 students now at Harvey Senior High School will be helped to choose and finalise next year's courses through the Education Department's counselling services."
The Minister said the Education Department and the Department of Transport were negotiating free travel arrangements between Harvey and Bunbury for the students.
Mr Barnett added that decreased Year 11 and 12 student numbers had resulted in students being offered a limited curriculum choice and combined classes.
"It was not an ideal educational situation," Mr Barnett said.
"Students will now have a wider curriculum choice and access to a much greater range of resources.
"Harvey Senior High School will continue to offer vocational educational programs for post compulsory students who are not completing TEE studies.
"This will allow the school to focus on Year 8 to 10 education and provide post compulsory opportunities for vocational education in the community."

Murray-Wellington MLA John Bradshaw welcomed the announcements saying he was pleased the future of the Harvey Agricultural College was now secure.
"This means there is a possibility of increasing student numbers at the college which will lead to more employment and ongoing benefits to the Harvey community," he said.
Mr Bradshaw chaired a community-based committee which worked to have the college moved to Wokalup and enlarged.
"As for the school, while I am disappointed it has lost the TEE subjects, I understand the lack of numbers made it difficult to maintain them. The boost to vocational education in the Harvey area assures the school will benefit the majority of students."

Mr Barnett and Mr House said Mr Bradshaw had been an active lobbyist for the changes and thanked him for his input.

Media contacts:
Caroline Lacy, Mr Barnett's office, 9424 7450
Julie Cole, Mr House's office, 9481 2044