Funding for schools in Kwinana-Rockingham region

24/11/94

More than $13.2 million is to be spent on new school facilities in the fast-growing Kwinana - Rockingham region as part of the Education Department's capital works program.

Education Minister Norman Moore said work was due to start within a few weeks on the major project in the region - the $12 million Warnbro Community High School.

Mr Moore said the school would be a showcase for new developments in information and education technology and its facilities were being designed to maximise joint community use.  It would bring immediate accommodation relief for Safety Bay Senior High School where enrolments had expanded rapidly over the past two years.

The first stage of the project would include general classrooms, a technology and enterprise centre, science facilities and a multi-purpose sports hall.  Interim facilities for art, media, drama and school administration would be incorporated within the new buildings, but these would be expanded and upgraded when stage two of the school was completed in the future.

The school would also have an automatically-reticulated grassed oval, cricket practice wickets and hardcourts overmarked for basketball, netball and tennis.  The project was due to be completed in December next year, in readiness for the start of the 1996 school year.

Mr Moore said Leda Primary School was to have extensions costing $800,000 to accommodate growth in enrolments at the school.

A five-classroom cluster with adjoining toilet facilities was under construction and work was due to be completed by June, 1995.

At East Waikiki Primary School, major additions to staff facilities would cost $425,000.  A new staff room would be provided, along with a conference room, new offices for deputy principals and upgraded clerical areas.  The project was due to begin in January and be completed next July.

Mr Moore said an allocation of $40,000 had been made for new toilet facilities for the Malibu Education Support Centre for students with disabilities.

Mr Clive Griffiths, Member for the South Metropolitan Region said he was delighted that the Minister was making a positive effort to improve schools and education in the area.

Although Mr Griffiths said he felt that more was required, he was happy with the $13.2 million allocated for school facilities.

Media contact:  Ross Storey  321 1444 - 222 9595