Public Works Committee: Ocean View P-12 College Redevelopment

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:48): I move:

That the 86^th report of the committee for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament, entitled Ocean View P-12 College Redevelopment Project, be noted.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your indulgence in continuing to abide my comments. We are certainly making a lengthy contribution here for the public works, and we are very proud of the reports we are bringing before you today.

As you will know, Mr Speaker, Ocean View College is located on Gedville Road at Taperoo in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. The Department for Education has advised that the college community includes students from a range of backgrounds and nationalities, including a significant Indigenous cohort.

The college requires capital works to provide sufficient capacity to accommodate 800 students, and this additional capacity will cater for expected future enrolment growth, including the transition of year 7 students into high school in 2022. Ocean View P-12 College was allocated funding of $5 million as part of the Department for Education's capital works program, and the redevelopment will consist of demolition, new works and refurbishment of existing facilities to accommodate up to 800 students on the extant site.

The proposed scope of works for the college redevelopment project includes the construction of a new performing arts facility, with learning areas for drama, music and art; the decommissioning of the student amenities and refurbishment of the teacher preparation areas to incorporate art labs and multimedia; the refurbishment of the student withdrawal area; landscaping of the southern entrance to the school; an upgraded car park; and demolition of aged buildings. Construction is expected to be completed by July 2021.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to this project, and received assurances that the appropriate consultation in relation to this project had been undertaken. 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. Having regard to 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 public works that I have described.

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (11:51): I rise to speak briefly about the school, given that it is in my electorate. Beautiful Ocean View College: once the location of Taperoo high and then, with the closure of the primary school, one of the early superschools, the merger many years ago to create Ocean View College. It is an extraordinary privilege each year (and I am assuming that it will be happening later this year) for me to go to their year 12 graduation. It is the first of the graduations in the electorate's schools for me to attend each year, and it is one of the warmest and most joyous of those occasions.

The pride the community shows in their young people graduating and completing school is an absolute delight to be a part of. I am very pleased to hear about the money that was previously allocated being now refined into a project. It was very heartening to see how successful the STEM project was previously: it looks wonderful, it is being used brilliantly under the stewardship of the principal and the governing council, and now to have that additional money that was previously allocated under the Labor government to be able to continue to improve the facilities available at the school is extremely welcome. I therefore wholeheartedly support this report.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:52): I recognise, appreciate and thank the member for Port Adelaide for her contribution, enthusiasm for and commitment to this school community, but equally her commitment to education long before she entered this place. It was very interesting to hear of her enthusiasm for year 12 graduations at the school, and the warm and very joyous environment that exists on that occasion, and the belief and commitment of the whole school community in what is occurring at the school. I also appreciated her reflections on earlier STEM works at the site. I have no hesitation in recommending this project to parliament.

Motion carried.