12/12/02
The State Government has approved stage three of the Mount Lawley Senior High School redevelopment, making the project - at $34.4million - one of the biggest school construction projects ever undertaken in the State.
Education Minister Alan Carpenter turned the sod to mark the start of the first two stages of the reconstruction, and announced the State Government had given the go-ahead for the $8million third and final stage of the project.
Mr Carpenter said the work would complete the State Government's commitment to transforming Mount Lawley Senior High School from a tired 1950s school into one of the premier educational facilities in the State.
"This third stage will see the construction of a senior campus for Year 10, 11 and 12 students which will create purpose-built teaching and learning facilities, a Student Services centre and new library, cafeteria and oval," the Minister said.
"With the $27million funding from the State Government for the high school part of the project and the $7.4million from Edith Cowan University, this becomes one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken by the Department of Education."
Mr Carpenter said consultation and planning for Stage three would begin next year, construction in the middle of 2005 and the completion date to be about mid-2006.
"This final stage includes the development of a Year 10, 11 and 12 senior campus, designed to offer a more mature learning environment appropriate for older students," he said.
"Its location will allow post-compulsory students access to specialist facilities at Edith Cowan University, particularly those in the area of the performing arts.
"It will also provide students an opportunity to have a greater experience of a tertiary environment.
"Stage three also incorporates a digital resource centre. It is anticipated it will provide a professional development centre where research, pre-service and in-service training for staff in the use of digital technology in education will take place.
"It is also hoped the centre will be able to conduct its own national-level technological research."
Mr Carpenter said the focus of the senior campus would be on developing programs that linked in with the Edith Cowan University, other universities, TAFE and the workplace.
He said today's sod-turning had set off a two-and-a-half year reconstruction program which would employ hundreds of workers.
"In addition to the senior school facilities announced today, the redevelopment includes a new $15million middle school, a $7.24million recreation centre to be shared with Edith Cowan University and a $2.16million multi-level carpark for school and university use," he said.
"Over the coming two-and-a-half years, Mount Lawley SHS will undergo a transformation which will make it almost unrecognisable from its current form."
Local MLA Bob Kucera thanked the school community, including staff and parents, for its involvement in the redevelopment program.
"I understand the community has been involved in all aspects of the project and that the P&C association especially has been extensively involved and supportive of the program," Mr Kucera said.
"This redevelopment will create a state-of-the-art senior high school facility that will showcase to the community the quality of facilities and educational provision in the Government school system," he said.
Progress on the project can be monitored via the website on: http://www.lawley.wa.edu.au
Minister's office: 9213 6800
Mt Lawley Senior High School
Redevelopment Timetable
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