LOCKLEYS PRESCHOOL

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. What strategies does the government have in place to ensure both the short and long-term operation of the Lockleys Preschool?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:35): I thank the member for Colton for his question. The last few months have been a rollercoaster ride for the Lockleys Preschool community. Members may not be aware, but the current site of the preschool, which is owned by the West Torrens council, has been deemed unsafe for use as a preschool. An independent arborist was engaged to assess the safety of 12 large gum trees, one of which dropped a large branch into the preschool grounds last year. The arborist recommended that the site was no longer to be used as a preschool as it poses an unacceptable risk for students and staff.

I am pleased to advise that a new $3.5 million preschool will be built for the Lockleys community at the Lockleys North Primary School. I gave approval for this work to commence last Thursday following discussions with both the leadership teams from the school and preschool as well as the respective heads of their governing councils. I want to thank very much both the member for Colton for his advocacy and the member for West Torrens. This has led to a great result.

The efforts of local staff meant that by 11 February all 77 children had been placed in nearby kindergartens within five kilometres of the site. The Lockleys community have shown a great degree of resilience and understanding in this process and I want to place on record my appreciation of all of those involved. Standing shoulder to shoulder with them, of course, has been the team from the Department for Education and Child Development. The state government is indebted to the great work they have done in not only placing the children quickly but organising a new facility that I am pleased to say will be up and running for term 1 in 2014.

This preschool dates back to 1946 when parents gathered together to form a kindergarten and playgroup, so it has a great history. The Lockleys Baptist Church in Torrens Avenue offered the use of a large back room where they held Sunday school, and also the use of a piano and toilet facilities. In 1947, it began with a group of children aged three to five who lived in the local area. By 1948, the preschool was well established with around 30 children and a waiting list. From the start at Torrens Avenue, parents aimed to raise money for land and a building of their own. Mr Alec Ramsay, who was general manager of the South Australian Housing Trust at the time, found he was able to make a piece of land in Rowells Road available for this purpose. By 1954, a contractor was found to construct a building for the reasonable sum of £2,655, and a loan from the West Torrens council for £1,500 pounds helped enormously.

Families in Lockleys can now look forward to building on over 65 years of services with a new co-located facility that will offer families the convenience of a one-stop shop and allow greater opportunities for both the school and preschool to work together. The new facility is a great result for all involved and I wish the preschool director Pauline Robinson and Lockleys North principal Anne O'Callaghan my best wishes as they forge a bright new future for the Lockleys school community.