Six Gov't schools to have automatic reticulation systems by middle of this year

2/3/98

Six Western Australian Government schools will have automatic reticulation systems installed by the middle of this year in the first phase of a $9.9 million, four-year Government initiative to improve school grounds.

Education Minister Colin Barnett announced today that the schools included in the first phase of the program were Ferndale, Kewdale, Coolbinia, Ashfield, Ardross and Dunsborough primary schools.

Design and installation work at each school is expected to cost about $47,000 and is due to start in April or May, with installation to take about four weeks to complete.

The four-year reticulation program was a 1996 election commitment which aims to see more than 150 Government school sites installed with automatic ground-watering systems by 2001. These will replace inefficient surface pipes, hoses and sprinklers currently in use.

"In the longer term, these much more efficient automatic watering systems will reduce wastage and therefore save money when compared to the manual watering systems," Mr Barnett said.

"Eventually, the program will be self-funding and any extra savings will be redirected back into the classroom."

The Minister said that manual watering systems, which required pipes and sprinklers to be physically moved during daylight hours, were particularly inefficient in summer when water restrictions applied.

"A major objective of the automatic reticulation program is to improve the standard of school grounds while, at the same time, saving scheme water and electricity costs by using alternative sources such as bores and recycled effluent for irrigation, where feasible, and power at off-peak rates," Mr Barnett said.

"In a State where sport and outdoor activities are a vitally important part of the life of our young people, it is essential for schools to have appropriate facilities.

"Attractive surroundings can also make a valuable contribution to the ethos and learning environment of a school."

Mr Barnett said a large number of schools were using 40-year-old technology to keep their grounds in an acceptable condition.

"When it is considered that the Education Department maintains 12 per cent of irrigated turf grass, apart from private households, in the Perth region alone, it is clear that automated systems using ground water offer major savings in water, power and labour," he said.

"Gardeners also will be relieved of the time-wasting and physically-onerous task of lifting and moving surface irrigation pipes. This is also a task which, because of the inherent physical risks of lifting and carrying, has to be carried out in daylight hours which is not conducive to the most environmentally-appropriate use of water."

Mr Barnett said the six schools in the 1997-98 program - and a further 145 between now and 2001 - were being identified through a selection process developed in conjunction with schools, gardeners and parents represented by the WA Council of State School Organisations.

It was expected that an additional 21 schools would have their grounds reticulated next financial year, 55 in 1999/2000 and 69 in 2000/2001. Of the 151 schools involved in the scheme, 116 would be primary and 35 secondary schools.

The Department of Contract and Management Services had appointed Coney Stevens Project Management Pty Ltd as project managers for the Education Department for the four-year project.

Media contact: Peter Harris (08) 9222 9699