Shark Bay Primary School one of the first to have asbestos roof replaced

13/8/97

Shark Bay Primary School will be one of the first schools in Western Australia to have its asbestos roof replaced under an accelerated $20 million five-year program.

Visiting Shark Bay Primary School today, Education Minister Colin Barnett said work would begin on replacing the roof in the current financial year.

The work would be carried out during school holidays when the school was vacant.

Mr Barnett said Shark Bay Primary School was one of 40 schools which would receive a new roof during the first year of the Education Department's accelerated roof replacement program.

Earlier this year, the Minister announced a $15 million five year funding boost to the program to speed up the replacement of the 200 asbestos cement roofs remaining on schools around the State.

Under the accelerated program, approximately 40 schools will have these roofs replaced each year, compared to around 15 roofs previously.

"Funding has been increased from$1 million to $4 million each year for the next five years, to accelerate implementation of the program," Mr Barnett said.

"The extra funding towards roof replacement means that all asbestos cement roofs at schools will be replaced much sooner than first planned," he said.

"They will all be replaced within five years, compared to the 18 years originally detailed under the Education Department's roof replacement program."

Roofs on Government schools are currently being assessed. All asbestos cement roofs will be replaced and all other roofs - aluminium, colourbond, tile and zincalum - will be inspected and replaced if necessary.

Media contact: Justine Whittome (08) 9222 9699