Public Works Committee: Mount Barker High School Redevelopment

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:49): I move:

That the 52^nd report of the committee, entitled Mount Barker High School Redevelopment, be noted.

You will know that witnesses presented to the Public Works Committee at a public hearing on 20 February regarding the proposal for a redevelopment of part of Mount Barker High School. This project is one very close to my heart and important to my community, and it is a very necessary project. Mount Barker High School was allocated funding of $6 million as part of the Department for Education's capital works program and those funds will be acquitted in ways that I will describe to the house.

The committee was informed that Mount Barker High School currently has approximately 630 students and the school will require additional capacity to support the transition of year 7 students to high school in 2022. The redevelopment works at Mount Barker High School are expected to provide sufficient capacity to accommodate 850 students in order to cater for the transition of year 7 students to high school, as well as manage the projected increase in student enrolment numbers. You will know that the transition of year 7 to high school is contemplated for 2022.

The proposed redevelopment will consist of demolition, new works and refurbishment of the existing facilities at Mount Barker High School. Of note is the particular scope of works, which includes refurbishing learning areas to cater for the expected increase, to which I have earlier alluded, the removal of an ageing transportable building, and the provision of new buildings as well, and that is expected to improve connectivity across the school site. The project will also include the upgrade of existing outdated teaching areas to provide contemporary learning spaces. The estimated total cost of the redevelopment works is $6 million and construction is expected to be completed by April 2021.

The Public Works Committee has examined written and oral evidence in relation to this project, and the committee has been assured by Department for Education officials that appropriate acquittals have been received from the Department of Treasury and Finance, Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Crown Solicitor that the works and procedures are lawful. The committee is satisfied that the proposal has been subject to the appropriate agency consultation and meets the criteria for the examination of projects as described in the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991. Based on the evidence considered, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the scope of the proposed public works.

Motion carried.