10/12/04
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter has today announced $5.2million for the first stage of a major redevelopment for Rossmoyne Senior High School.
Mr Carpenter said planning for the project would commence during Term One next year with the appointment of an architect and the establishment of a school consultation process.
"This is a major redevelopment project which requires detailed planning and consultation with the school community,"
the Minister said.
"Preliminary plans include extending the new $2.4million Performing Arts Centre to create a School for Creative Arts and Design.
"This will involve building a creative arts learning area which would include purpose-built facilities for painting, drawing, print-making, ceramics and sculpture.
"The school will then have the opportunity to convert the existing art and design areas to classrooms for other learning areas.
"It is also planned to use approximately $200,000 to create an earth bund along the Leach Highway frontage of the school to help reduce traffic noise."
Mr Carpenter said construction was expected to commence in the early part of 2006 and be complete by the end of Term One, 2007.
Riverton MLA Tony McRae welcomed the Minister's announcement and congratulated the school community for their dedication and vision.
"The Rossmoyne Education Concept Committee has played an integral role in discussions about the future of education delivery at the school," Mr Mc Rae said.
"Their document, 'Our Vision for the Future: The Rossmoyne Centre for Excellence', will provide an important vision and direction for this upgrade project."
Mr Carpenter congratulated Mr McRae on his efforts to secure the multi-million dollar funding boost for the high school.
"Tony was involved in the initial discussions with the school community about the future of education at Rossmoyne Senior High School," the Minister said.
"He helped them plan and progress their 'Our Vision for the Future: The Rossmoyne Centre for Excellence' concept, and was a strong supporter of their ideas."
Mr Carpenter said the $5.2million upgrade was in addition to the $355,082 the school had received under the Gallop Government's $65million maintenance initiative, which was designed to clear the entire maintenance backlog currently on the books in every public school in Western Australia.
The Minister said the multi-million dollar investment in Rossmoyne Senior High School was the result of the Gallop Government's responsible economic management and four consecutive balanced Budgets.
"The previous Liberal Government had five deficits in eight years, running down the State," he said.
"In contrast, the Gallop Government's strong financial performance has enabled us to increase the Education and Training budget by more than $1.551billion or 26.5 per cent over the last four years.
"In that time, we have also spent more than $566million on building and upgrading school facilities, an increase of $45million, compared with the previous Liberal Government."
Minister's office: 9213 6800
