New Swanbourne Primary School to go ahead

17/2/00

Approval has been given for Swanbourne Primary School to be relocated on the site of the Swanbourne Senior High School at Narla Road.
The new school will be completed by the second school term in 2001 and replaces the current inadequate facilities in Derby Road.
Education Minister Colin Barnett said today he was pleased all planning difficulties had been overcome.
He said for the past 12 months the Education Department of Western Australia had been consulting with representatives of the Aboriginal community about the use of the site of the former high school.
An application went to the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee earlier this month and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kim Hames approved the redevelopment provided EDWA complied with certain conditions.
"Aboriginal people lived in the area up until 1951 and it is only fitting that there should be recognition of this,"
Mr Barnett said.
"One of the conditions of the redevelopment is that EDWA sets 1.5 ha of land aside to focus on Aboriginal heritage for use by the school and Aboriginal and wider communities. Appropriate signage would recognise the original inhabitants of the area.
"Other conditions include dedicating a section of the new school library for Aboriginal material and that a cross cultural awareness program including Aboriginal history and culture be included in the school's curriculum."
Mr Barnett said more than 300 schools throughout Western Australia offered Aboriginal Studies and it was appropriate Swanbourne did the same given the rich Aboriginal history of the area.
He praised the school's staff and parents' patience during the extensive negotiations over the relocation.
"Facilities at the existing school are below standard making teaching and learning difficult," Mr Barnett said.
"The new state-of-the-art school will have 12 general teaching areas, two education support teaching areas, two pre-primary and a kindergarten, art and craft room, library resource centre, canteen administration block and hard courts and oval."
Mr Barnett said the covered assembly area would be extended and enclosed so it could be used as a school hall.
Media contact: Diana Callander (08) 9222 9699