Parliamentary Committees

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: COWELL AREA SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (11:47): I move:

That the 380^th report of the committee, entitled Cowell Area School Redevelopment, be noted.

The redevelopment of the Cowell Area School is to occur at an estimated cost of $4.646 million excluding GST. When the project is complete, the school will accommodate an enrolment of 220 students which is the long-term predicted enrolment figure. There will be two new general learning area modular buildings with one covered deck as an outdoor learning area and a veranda, a new multipurpose modular building with toilets and a veranda, and a new technology studies facility. In addition, surplus timber transportable buildings will be demolished.

A temporary fence will be erected to define the contractor's compound and deny access by both parents and staff during the course of construction works. At times when the crossover of contractor staff and students will occur, appropriate management procedures will be put in place. There will be no need to provide additional temporary classroom accommodation during the works, as there is sufficient accommodation currently available on site. Neither is it anticipated that there will be a significant impact on the school's teaching delivery during the work projects. There is no requirement for the project to be staged.

The project seeks to address significant over capacity and to provide new general learning areas, specialised teaching facilities and modern, efficient and functional areas for the delivery of education to the community of the Cowell Area School.

The key drivers for the redevelopment proposal are to improve the accommodation for the school and avoid the continuing and escalating high cost of maintenance of the aged timber buildings on the site at present. There will be no change in the recurrent cost of the school's operation as a result of the redevelopment.

Three options were considered in the development of the project. Obviously, option A was do nothing. This was discounted, primarily due to the immediate need to undertake the replacement of a number of timber transportable core buildings, in order to maintain essential services and sustain current and future service delivery levels. The construction of a completely new school is the most costly option and was discounted as a number of the existing buildings are reasonably new, of solid construction and in good condition.

The preferred option is to redevelop the site to provide: new general learning area accommodation for school students; a multipurpose building to include specialist areas for science, art, home economics, computing, soft technology and media, with a covered outdoor learning area; a new technical studies facility; and new student amenities. With those comments, I recommend the motion to the house.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (11:51): The opposition signals its support for this development. This is money well spent. As the chairman of the committee has pointed out, the project involves redevelopment of the Cowell Area School at an estimated cost of $4.646 million, including GST, and will accommodate an enrolment of 220 students, which is the long-term predicted enrolment figure.

As a result of this development, we are going to see provision for two new general learning area modular buildings, with one covered deck as an outdoor learning area and a veranda; a new multipurpose modular building with toilets and a veranda; a new technology studies facility; demolition of surplus timber transportable buildings; and some civil site and landscaping works.

The opposition was very happy to support this in the Public Works Committee. It follows extensive lobbying by the member for Flinders—both the current member for Flinders and the past member for Flinders. I am sure they will be pleased to see this school, in this important country region of South Australia, enjoy the benefits of this refurbishment.

It is a reminder that we must not forget regional South Australia. Investing in education and health infrastructure in those regional areas is so vital to country communities. Often, schools like this are the centre point for a town. They are a hub that provides services, not only for children, but often for adults, in the way of libraries, sporting activities—a whole range of things. Of course, they also generate economic activity in the town, which is of importance as well. So, the development has our full support and we look forward to the opening of the works in due course.

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (11:53): I support the member for Waite and reiterate his comments regarding the opposition supporting this motion. Certainly, we are very pleased to see the Cowell Area School and its redevelopment, as it is one of the many schools in my district. In fact, I visited the Cowell Area School just some three weeks ago, and they were certainly very pleased with the redevelopment and the new buildings and new structures that are going in place there. We are pleased to report also that, it is one area school, at least, that is forecasting an increase in enrolments over the coming years. So, we are very pleased to note that, and very supportive of the redevelopment.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:54): As indicated by the members for Light and Waite, those of us on the Public Works Committee were entirely unanimous in supporting this project; there is no question about that whatsoever. Poor old Cowell is out in the middle of nowhere and does not get a lot of attention.

An honourable member interjecting:

Mr PENGILLY: Not if you live there, no—true. These country schools need—

An honourable member interjecting:

Mr PENGILLY: You have had your turn. These country schools need all the funding they can get and anything that improves the lot of country children, such as this $4.6 million project at Cowell, is worthy of support. Like I say, there was no question about it as far as the committee was concerned, so I am pleased to support the motion.

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (11:55): I will add that construction is expected to commence very shortly. In fact, it should start within days or weeks, and it should be completed by July 2011. This investment in this school also demonstrates the government's commitment to rural and regional Australia, as will other motions later. Based on the evidence presented to it, pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee recommends the proposed public work to the house.

Motion carried.