Public Works Committee: Paralowie R-12 School Redevelopment

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:53): I move:

That the 57^th report of the committee for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament, entitled Paralowie High School Redevelopment, be noted.

You will learn, Mr Speaker, that the Paralowie R-12 School is located on Whites Road, Paralowie, in the district council of Salisbury and approximately 24 kilometres from the GPO. The Paralowie R-12 School was allocated funding of $12 million as part of the Department for Education's capital works program.

The proposed redevelopment will consist of refurbishment and extension works to existing facilities in order to accommodate a reception to year 12 cohort of approximately 1,600 students. The proposed redevelopment is expected to provide the required capacity to accommodate 1,600 students and also to cater for the expected enrolment growth, including the transition of year 7 students to high school. The scope of works will include:

the construction of new and contemporary junior primary facilities, including flexible general learning spaces and an integrated outdoor nature play area;

construction of a new performing arts centre as an extension to an existing building;

a partial refurbishment of building 6, including the existing performance space and a gym hall area; and

the partial refurbishment of the gym weights area.

I am also informed that the refurbishment will include building 2 to improve flexible learning spaces overall as earlier mentioned. Construction works for the redevelopment project are expected to be completed in July 2021. The committee examined evidence in relation to the project and received assurances that the appropriate consultation has been undertaken.

The committee was 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 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.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay) (11:55): As the local member, I welcome the investment in this unique and very special school. Paralowie is an R-12 school, which is actually quite unusual in metropolitan Adelaide. It has 1,400 students at the moment, and the expectation is that that will grow in capacity as we experience urban infill in the northern area.

I was delighted in 2017, under the Building Better Schools program, to inform the principal, Peter McKay, that they were successful, with a focus on need and capacity for Paralowie. It is a very diverse school, and I would like to thank all the teachers and the governing council, who are very committed to this school. They celebrate 50 years of being established, and, of course, they have a very famous former graduate, the former premier Lynn Arnold, who maintains connections with the school and who is incredibly well regarded.

I would like to congratulate the school. This builds on the investment of the STEM facilities, the opening of which I attended in 2019. It is a great school, they work incredibly hard and they come with their heart and soul every day to support their kids in the Paralowie area.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:57): I thank the member for Ramsay, and I indicate to the chamber that it may be possible also to recommend to the house in the time remaining a report on the Grant High School.

Motion carried.