House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-05 Daily Xml

Contents

ADELAIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:06): My question is also to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister provide an update to the house on the expansion of Adelaide High School?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (15:06): I thank the member for Reynell for her question. Over the years she has been a very strong advocate for public education, and I want to thank her for her ongoing interest and support. I am pleased to advise the construction management tender process to expand Adelaide High School is now complete and the contract has been awarded to Sarah Constructions. This $20 million project will see capacity at the school increase by 250 to 1,450 students. Importantly, it will generate around 110 jobs. Preliminary work is underway, with construction expected to start in April, and I am advised the new building will be completed by June 2014, followed by refurbishment of existing buildings.

The expansion will deliver a new three-storey learning centre, an extension and refurbishment of an existing two-storey building, and additional refurbishments that will provide 31 modern teaching spaces. The new building will provide a new resource centre, science laboratories, drama space, general learning areas and a rooftop plaza. Every effort has been made to limit building on the Parklands, with underground parking spaces for 47 cars also part of the redevelopment. I want to thank the Adelaide City Council and the school's governing council for the constructive role they played in developing the plans.

This is the final of four projects to commence construction and increase capacity at some of Adelaide's most popular high schools. This $70 million program will also increase the capacity at Glenunga International High School, Marryatville High and Brighton Secondary School. As a result of these expansions, the government will, in due course, announce plans regarding school zones in the surrounding areas. The Department for Education and Child Development now has around $336 million worth of infrastructure projects underway.

A further $32 million is being committed for additional school maintenance. I am told this is generating approximately 2,000 jobs. I understand that as well as delivering a number of Building the Education Revolution projects, Sarah Constructions built the Seaford 6-12 Trade Training Centre, and I congratulate them on winning the tender and wish them well with the Adelaide High build. As with the Building the Education Revolution, not only do we improve the quality of our schools, but in the process we create jobs, as well as a bright future for young South Australians.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before I take the supplementary, the Minister for Transport is not only called to order; he is warned for the first time.