Roofs at 26 schools around WA to be replaced in the coming 12 months

29/8/98

The second year of the State Government's $20 million five-year roof replacement program will see 26 school roofs around Western Australia replaced over the coming 12 months.

Education Minister Colin Barnett said today that nearly $2 million had been set aside this financial year to replace the roofs - 22 schools had asbestos cement roofs while the remainder had tile or aluminium roofs in need of replacement.

Under the first year of the program, roofs at 43 schools were replaced. A $15 million funding boost announced last year accelerated the program and would see all asbestos cement roofs at schools in WA replaced by 2002.

Mr Barnett said asbestos-cement roofs would be replaced at the following schools: Brentwood PS; Busselton SHS; Carnarvon Camp School; Coolbinia PS; Cunderdin Agricultural College; Dowerin DHS; East Narrogin PS; Eaton PS; Esperance SHS farm; Kent Street SHS; Lake Gwelup PS; Lancelin PS; Margaret River SHS; Merredin SHS; North Cottesloe PS; Rockingham Beach PS; Tammin PS; Vasse PS; West Morley PS; Westminster PS; Willetton SHS; and Winterfold PS (Beaconsfield).

Tile roofs would be replaced at Midvale and Yakamia (Albany) primary schools and aluminium roofs replaced at North Lake Senior College and Thornlie Senior High School.

All the roof replacement work would be carried out during school holiday periods to ensure school sites were vacant.

Mr Barnett said the roof replacement program was part of the State Government's commitment to maintain and upgrade the quality of school buildings.

"By the end of this financial year, more than $300 million will have been spent on capital works at Government schools over the past three years," he said.

"The Government is committed to raising the standard of our school buildings, many of which were built in the 1960s and 70s, to bring them up to the levels required by students and staff today and in the future."

Media contact: Justine Whittome, (08) 9222 9699