New secondary school for Atwell community

23/11/04
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter today announced a new $23million state-of-the-art secondary school to open in Atwell in January 2008.
Mr Carpenter said planning would begin early next year and it would take three years for the project to be completed. The appointment of an architect and the establishment of a community consultation process will be the first stage.
The Minister said construction of the new school, to be located on the corner of Bartram Road and Brenchley Drive, Atwell, was expected to commence in the latter part of 2006.
The announcement was welcomed by Southern River MLA Paul Andrews, who said it brought the Gallop Government's funding of new and redeveloped educational facilities in the area to more than $66million since being elected in 2001.
"Atwell is one of Western Australia's fastest growing areas and the Gallop Government is responding to the community's need for increased services," Mr Andrews said.
"During our first four years in office, we've built the new $16million Canning Vale College, completely redeveloped Gosnells Senior High School at a cost of $7million and have today announced a new $23million high school for Atwell.
"We've also built two new primary schools - the $8.4million Harmony Primary School and the $5.2million Campbell Primary School - as well as two pre-primary centres at Bushy Grove and Atwell, with the $6.6million Canning Vale (North) Primary school set to open next year."
Mr Carpenter said the new school would cater for students from the existing Atwell, Harmony and Jandakot primary schools, with more than 200 students expected to enrol at the school for the first time in 2008.
He said the Gallop Government's responsible economic management and four years of balanced Budgets had enabled the multi-million dollar investment in education in Atwell and surrounding areas.
"The previous Liberal Government had five deficits in eight years, running down the State," the Minister 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.
"We have also spent close to $217million over the past four years on building new schools, an increase of more than $38million or 21 per cent on the previous Government's record."
Minister's office: 9213 6800