Public Works Committee: Victor Harbor R-7 School Redevelopment

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

That the 87^th report of the committee for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament, entitled Victor Harbor R-7 School Redevelopment Project, be noted.

Victor Harbor R-7 School is located on The Parkway, Victor Harbor, within the City of Victor Harbor. The R-7 school currently provides a primary school curriculum to students from reception through to year 7 and also includes a special education unit catering for students with moderate to severe disabilities.

The proposed redevelopment will provide sufficient capacity to accommodate 730 students on the site, and the school was allocated funding of $5 million as part of the Department for Education's capital works program. The proposed redevelopment will consist of demolition, new works and the refurbishment of existing facilities on the school site and, as mentioned, there will be capacity to accommodate additional students on the extant site.

The proposed scope for the Victor Harbor R-7 School redevelopment project includes construction of a new single-storey learning centre, incorporating general learning areas; a computer workshop; a science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) learning area; breakout spaces; and staff preparation areas. It will also include the replacement of roofs, gutters, downpipes, ceilings and lighting, and the replacement of a covered walkway and covered outdoor learning area and, equally, general landscaping and paving. The proposed redevelopment works will be staged, with the construction expected to be completed by August 2021.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the 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. 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 proposed public works.

It would be remiss of me not to add that we are very grateful for the member for Finniss' commitment, passion and dedication to this project and to seeing it through.

Mr BASHAM (Finniss) (11:56): I thank the member for Kavel for his kind words about the Victor Harbor R-7 School. I have the privilege of having numerous schools in my electorate, with I think seven in total. Interestingly, I have had immediate family attend or are attending six of those schools in the electorate in my lifetime. It is quite interesting to have a connection to all of them.

The site of the Victor Harbor R-7 School was relocated back in the late 1980s. The previous site is where the current Woolworths complex is, behind what is now the Target store in that complex, and the old school building that sits on that site is alongside the service station and the Kentucky Fried Chicken business. Interestingly, that occurred when my wife, Kate, was in her final year of primary school at the school. She was one of those lucky students to experience both campuses.

The new site for the school is not right in the centre of town like the old one, but not far—on a beautiful site on the banks of the river. These improvements to the school are very important and allow the school to deliver for the students and the people of Finniss.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:58): I recognise the member for Finniss' connection to the school and all present here very much enjoyed hearing about his wife Kate's attendance at the school as well and the historical uses for the site, which we of course would not know about without the benefit of evidence from a bona fide local. We appreciate very much hearing that detail.

It is extraordinary, I think, to have a connection to almost every school in an electorate. There would be few of us in this place who could claim that to be the case. It stands the member in extraordinarily good stead to have an instant knowledge and recall of those sites when, of course inevitably and quite rightly, constituents approach him seeking advice and guidance in relation to many matters, not just education but transport, road safety and other issues that come up in and around school sites, which are raised with all of us in this place.

Can I say, too, at the end of my contribution, in this hour, how grateful we are to our committee officers. There are a substantial number of reports that are necessary now to prepare in order to see through a public works program. We are very grateful for the work of our committee officers. They are diligent, uncomplaining and very talented, and they serve us and South Australians well.

Motion carried.