Public Works Committee: Bellevue Heights Primary School Redevelopment Project

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (11:55): I move:

That the 160^th report of the Public Works Committee, entitled Bellevue Heights Primary School Redevelopment Project, be noted.

Based on the evidence considered by the committee, and in order to give the local member time to speak to her submission, pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public work.

Ms HUTCHESSON (Waite) (11:56): I rise today in support of the Public Works Committee report, and I thank all the committee for their work on this. The project means a great deal to our Bellevue Heights community. It is not just about new buildings, it is about giving students, staff and families the learning spaces they deserve and supporting a school that not only delivers quality education but is so caring and nurturing of its young learners.

Bellevue Heights Primary School is a truly special place. It brings together families from many different cultural backgrounds in a school that celebrates inclusion, respect and curiosity. When you visit the school, you can feel that sense of community. You can see children who care about each other, who love learning and who are taught to value the land they learn on and the people around them.

The school has faced many challenges. The main building they have is now over 50 years old and has been unserviceable for the past two years. Their teachers have had to be incredibly resourceful, combining classes, adapting lessons and making the most of every bit of space available. Despite these challenges, the quality of education has remained outstanding. That is a testament to the leadership of Principal Margot Bradley and Deputy Principal Kirsty Whibley, the teaching staff, the support staff and the families who work together to make sure every child thrives.

I have spent time at the school and spoken with the teachers, students and parents and their resilience has been remarkable. They have kept their spirits high and they have kept their focus where it belongs: on the children. This redevelopment will give them what they deserve: a modern, flexible and sustainable learning environment that reflects who they are as a community.

The new design includes contemporary classrooms, breakout spaces, a studio and workshop, teacher preparation areas and wonderful outdoor learning spaces that bring the outside in. It will also include a community and cultural hub, a space that will bring people together, celebrate diversity and strengthen the connections that already make Bellevue Heights Primary so special.

What I love about this project is how thoughtfully it has been designed. The colour palette, the earthy reds and ochre, connects deeply to country and honours the spiritual relationship Aboriginal people have with their land. The soft greens and blues reflect the surrounding landscape, bringing a sense of calm and belonging. It is a building that feels like it belongs where it is going to go.

Of course, this respect for the environment is nothing new for Bellevue Heights Primary. The school is a leader in environmental education. The students have created their own national park on the grounds for which they are the park rangers, caring for the native vegetation they have planted based on endangered grey box grassy woodland native to the area. They have also planted an Indigenous garden designed by their First Nations students, which tells the Kaurna creation story of Tjilbruke.

This year, the school joined the SEEDS program, Stewardship of Endemic Endangered Species, one of only six schools to be selected. This gives the teachers, volunteers and eventually the students real hands-on experience in caring for native plants and wildlife. You can see their enthusiasm. I was there on Monday night, able to share some time with them in our bushfire forum, and the teachers, the kids and the parents were all pretty excited. The project itself will also take on sustainable development, which allows the children to learn about things like the use of solar panels and natural ventilation. The new landscaping will continue that work, using native and waterwise plants, bush tucker species and plants that attract local birds and insects. It is an environment designed to grow learning in every sense.

The community and cultural hub will also be a wonderful addition. I know this will mean a lot to parents and families who have been asking for a place to gather, share meals, hold events and celebrate. For a school with such a rich mix of cultures, this hub will be a beating heart of the community and a place where everyone feels welcome. Like I said, on Monday night we had our bushfire forum. Once this place is built, we will be able to have events like that and be able to utilise that space. We held the community barbecue in the car park and had to head up to the hill to the hall, so this will be a fantastic addition.

The redevelopment is about more than bricks and mortar, though. It is about opportunity, it is about pride, it is about giving the children the best possible start in life in a setting that reflects their values, respect, inclusion and care for the world around them. The students are excited, the staff are ready and the families are eager to see this vision come to reality. I know once it is complete it will have a lasting impact not only on the school but the whole community.

As a local member, I have seen firsthand what a difference the project will make. On Monday, while I was there, I took special note of where the building that is going to be demolished was. It was dark and lifeless, so I am pleased the school will soon have a new shiny home, a place that will bring people together.

I am proud to support the Public Works Committee's report on the Bellevue Heights Primary School redevelopment. I commend it to the house and urge that the project be delivered as swiftly as possible so the students, staff and families of Bellevue Heights can begin this excellent new chapter.

Motion carried.