Mount Barker - $7million boost for education

8/12/04
The State Government has today announced that a brand new state-of-the-art $7million primary school will be built on the Mount Barker Senior High School site in readiness for the start of the 2007 school year.
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter announced the funding today and said it was the first stage in the development of Mount Barker's 'One Community - One College' vision for a Kindergarten to Year 12 facility in the area.
Mr Carpenter said planning for the new primary facilities would commence early next year with the appointment of an architect and the establishment of a school consultation process.
Construction is expected to commence in the latter part of 2005 and be complete by January 2007.
A power supply upgrade to the school site at an estimated cost of $123,000 is also expected to be a part of the project.
"I met with the school and community representatives earlier this year and they presented me with their vision for the future of education in Mount Barker," the Minister said.
"I was impressed with their passion and dedication to ensuring the best educational future for their children and look forward to seeing the 'One Community - One College' concept becoming a reality."
Mr Carpenter said the decision to relocate Mount Barker's primary school students to the new multi-million dollar primary facilities followed the Local Area Education Planning (LAEP) process.
"There was strong community involvement in the LAEP process, including input from the area's primary and secondary schools, TAFEWA and the university sector," he said.
"The 'One Community - One College' Kindergarten to Year 12 concept was strongly supported by the community."
The Minister said responsible economic management and four years of balanced Budgets by the Gallop Government had enabled the $7million investment in the future of education and training in Mount Barker.
"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."
Minister's office: 9213 6800