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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-04-06 Daily Xml
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PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: WALLARA EARLY YEARS TO YEAR 7 (NEW MORPHETT VALE PRIMARY SCHOOL) REDEVELOPMENT

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (11:35): I move:

That the 400th report of the committee, on Wallara Early Years to Year 7 (New Morphett Vale Primary School) Redevelopment, be noted.

I believe the member for Reynell will speak on it more in depth than I will, but I raise the fact that this is an important committee and it is an important report to be reaching a 400th milestone. I would also like to congratulate and recognise the backup of the executive team that we have in creating these reports for parliament each week: our new executive officer David Morfesi and the soon-to-wed Amanda Pacella (behind the scenes) who do a great job. We are very grateful for their contributions.

Based on the evidence before us and section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act, we, the Public Works Committee, report to the parliament that we recommend the proposed work.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (11:36): I am very happy to speak to the 400th report of the Public Works Committee. I make that point to the house and commend all members of public works committees, both present and past, for their efforts. I know there are quite a few present members who were members in the past. It has had a chequered history, the Public Works Committee.

It is quite an achievement to be tabling the 400th report of the committee that, after all, was formed in the aftermath of the State Bank disaster when taxpayers' money was thrown away and wasted on an array of useless projects of no benefit to the taxpayer, with the only outcome being billions and billions of dollars worth of debt.

We should never forget that the Public Works Committee was formed to make sure that history never repeats itself. That is why the 400th report should be noted today. This is a milestone in the parliament's efforts to ensure that it keeps the executive, regardless of who is in office, to account; that no executive again ever throws taxpayers' money away, as we saw during the State Bank debacle.

It is even more appropriate that that 400th report be an education investment down at Morphett Vale, as part of a primary school redevelopment. Can there be any greater or more worthwhile expenditure of taxpayers' money than to teach the children? This project is a good use of taxpayers' money. It has our full support, and we look forward to construction commencing.

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (11:38): I can assure members that the members of the school community of the new Morphett Vale Primary School are extremely eager to see this construction concluded, and will be extraordinarily disappointed if it is not concluded to enable them to take possession of the school in December this year, ready to open the brand-new school in 2012. They had anticipated being able to do this in 2010, but various interventions have prevented that.

The school has become somewhat disheartened about the prospect of entering their new school. They are also concerned that there has been criticism from some people about super schools. What has brought about this amalgamation is the fact that there were two schools—the child-parent centre and a preschool—both of which were experiencing declining numbers.

Morphett Vale is an area that was full of young families 30, 40, 50 years ago, but no longer is. We have an abundant number of schools in Morphett Vale. The numbers were declining with the changing demographics so that schools were catering for only just over 100 children. This limited their ability to provide a specialist curriculum and specialist support services or even for the children to be able to participate in sport. There certainly were not enough kids to put on an AFL team—they were struggling to get a soccer team.

So the parents wisely, in my view, came together and decided that they had to build a new and bigger school to give their children opportunities. It is my experience that this is what is behind the decision of all parents who say, 'We need to close our schools and look for better opportunities for our children.' While there is a great notion about the sacredness of small schools, they are not always able to operate and offer opportunities that are experienced in slightly larger schools. We are hoping that this school will grow from the initial expectation of around 300 enrolments to something like 450 enrolments so that a wide range of opportunities and specialist support are available for the children who will attend this important school in Morphett Vale.

It is very significant that this school is to occupy the site of the previous Morphett Vale High School, which itself had to close because of changing demographics and declining numbers. This means that the school will be able to offer facilities and space that are not generally available in primary schools. There will be plenty of space for the school to grow but, more importantly, there will be plenty of space for the children's activities now and, given that this school will have a high proportion of children with significant disabilities, it is also important that a dedicated area will be provided to meet their needs and also some of the needs of their parents, who often need extra support to manage their children.

There is also the important inclusion of the Smith Family and the family centre. It is recognised by these schools that supporting parents to support their children's learning is a very important part of a modern school, particularly in an area where the parents might not have had the opportunity to have a great deal of education themselves. They can struggle in supporting their children, and so the schools involved here have wisely engaged the Smith Family to assist them in the process of providing the best environment for children to learn, both at school and at home, through the support of their children.

I want to congratulate and commend all the members of the current governing council, of the Morphett Vale Primary School, as it is called at the moment; the past members of the Morphett Vale West Primary School governing council; the John Morphett Primary School governing council; and the John Morphett Kindergarten committee of management. They have had to make some big decisions on behalf of their community. We know that no community likes to see its local school close because it is part of a community's being, but these people have put the future opportunities of their children in front of nostalgia and they must be commended.

One of the important features of the new school is that it will provide better opportunities for staff than the previous schools. Indeed, as is often the case for staff in all schools, it is part of the design consultation phase. We have stressed that staff need to have their professionalism and their needs recognised and to have a suitable space where they can not only prepare lessons but, if necessary, withdraw and debrief themselves from some of the stressful situations that they encounter in their valuable jobs in the classroom. I really hope that the things we have discussed in the consultation process manifest in the final design.

I have challenged the architects to provide the most beautiful and most stylish school in my area because, unfortunately, often the state school design—particularly in areas where the demographics are expected to change—can only be described as third rate, if not, indeed, grotty. The recent BER projects have been a huge boon to schools in my area. They finally have a really beautiful building.

Unfortunately, governments of all persuasions over the years have not found it necessary to invest in high quality design and appearance of the learning environment in some of these older schools. The School Pride initiatives, from both the state and federal governments, under the Labor regime recently, have made great improvements but the inherent design is not good. The architects have assured me that this will indeed be the most significant school in the area, both from its appearance and the actuality of the learning and teaching environment.

I can assure you that the community of this school is looking forward with eager anticipation to the decision of this parliament. Thanks to the Public Works Committee for the expeditious way in which it dealt with this matter. We look forward to celebrating the opening of the Morphett Vale Primary School next year, with plenty of time for the preparation of the site by the staff and community, starting in December this year.

Motion carried.

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