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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-07-23 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Brighton Secondary School Redevelopment

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:47): I move:

That the 66th report of the committee for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament, entitled Brighton Secondary School Redevelopment Project, be noted.

Brighton Secondary School requires additional student accommodation to support the projected increase in student enrolment numbers at the school This includes supporting the transition of year 7 students to high school, which is anticipated in 2022.

The proposed redevelopment will ensure that there is the required capacity to accommodate a total of 1,800 students by 2022. The total cost estimate for the redevelopment works at Brighton Secondary School is $13.1841 million. The redevelopment project will be delivering the construction of a new two-storey building and this will provide the school with new general learning areas; classrooms of science, technology, engineering and mathematics; dedicated meeting spaces; and staff and student amenities.

The redevelopment project will also deliver a refurbishment to the existing main school building and external works including the relocation of the existing beach volleyball courts. The Public Works Committee examined written evidence from the Department for Education regarding this project and it was satisfied that the appropriate consultation was undertaken for this project.

The committee was satisfied that the proposal meets the criteria for the examination of public works projects which is described in the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991. Mr Speaker, 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, which are detailed in the report that the committee has brought before you.

Mr PATTERSON (Morphett) (11:49): I rise to speak on the 66th report of the Public Works Committee on the Brighton Secondary School upgrade. It is a very much welcomed upgrade to what is a much-loved school in the local area. If you get your map out, the electorate of Morphett sits just outside Brighton Secondary School. It is in the member for Gibson's electorate, but the member for Gibson, who is a past scholar of Brighton Secondary School, one of the alumni, works very closely with me at this school.

We often attend the year 12 graduation ceremonies together. It is always a fantastic night to see so many young people graduating from this school, and I can touch on that a little bit later. In terms of the school itself, it is located just off Brighton Road. It was established in 1952 and currently provides education for years 8 to 12. It has a number of specialist programs as well, which makes it very important and a reason why the children of a number of constituents of Morphett go to Brighton Secondary School.

The motto of the school, 'Do all things well', sums up the school to a tee because there are many fantastic specialist programs that this school provides. I commend the principal, Tony Lunniss, for his hard work, taking over in 2019 from previous principal, Olivia O'Neill, who really worked hard to set up some of these programs. As an example, it is one of the schools of choice for international students. It is one of 400 schools across the world that is an Apple Distinguished School, so from an international student perspective it is much sought after as well, not just by people in our local area.

One of the reasons why it is sought after is that it has a highly credentialled music program, established in 1976 and now run by Head of Music, Andrew Barrett. Some of the musical talents of these students are amazing. On first becoming a member of parliament, I remember Jeffrey Kong, who was the previous head of music and acted as the conductor. Some of the music and the range of music as well is outstanding, from classical to modern day. Quite often, you will see the same student be the lead guitarist in a contemporary band and then move into playing another instrument, such as the saxophone, in their classical orchestra. They are very talented students ably led by the Head of Music.

At the graduation ceremonies I talked about previously, the member for Gibson and I are able to see their skills up close and personal. One of their notable music alumni is Rachael Leahcar, who graduated in 2010. You might know that in 2012 she was a finalist and came third in The Voice Australia and then continued on to do many high-profile music events, as well as singing in our local community.

Another specialist program at this school is volleyball, a program established in 1994. This is where many prospective elite volleyballers go to really form a foundation for their skills. The school itself is very well known in not only South Australia but also Australia. It was in fact the champion volleyball school of Australia for many years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018. I list them in order to really make the point that this school in our local area is one that is well renowned throughout Australia and one of the great reasons why this school is much sought after.

In terms of current enrolments, the school has 1,634 enrolments and is looking to move in 2022 to increase that to 1,800 places. One of those reasons is that it is looking to move year 7 students into the secondary college there. Of course, at the moment, with such a high capacity, it is really important that that is taken into account.

Many of the schools in Morphett, such as Glenelg Primary School, are feeder schools for this school, so those year 7s at Glenelg Primary will subsequently look to continue on from 2022 onwards at Brighton Secondary School. To that end, it was a fantastic announcement when the education minister and the Marshall Liberal government backed this school in and allocated $13.841 million as part of our capital works education program, which was announced in February 2019, to really set about increasing the capacity of the school.

In terms of what the current proposal contemplates, it is aiming to provide new and refurbished learning areas that are more suited to the delivery of contemporary pedagogy to improve those learning outcomes for students. It also looks to construct a new two-storey building providing new general learning areas, STEM classrooms with flexible learning spaces, dedicated meeting spaces, and staff and student amenities.

It also looks at refurbishing the existing main school building, which is the building you can see from Brighton Road and which was built in 1952. It was originally built there, and the architecture looks very impressive from the main road, Brighton Road, but it does need to be retrofitted, improved and refurbished, and that will include general learning areas to create open and flexible learning spaces.

Finally, there will be some external works done, which will include the removal and relocation of the existing beach volleyball courts and minor landscaping works. Those beach volleyball courts are directly adjacent to the school's performing arts centre. With respect to that performing arts centre, we have been very lucky. We have heard previous reports in the Public Works Committee of other schools having a performing arts centre, and that certainly has been a highlight for this school.

It has been in place for many years and provides a terrific facility not only for the school students to do their concerts but also for the local community to use. Upcoming in August, the City of Holdfast Bay is looking to hold a citizenship ceremony there. I have attended many citizenship ceremonies there. They are joyful events not only for the school students but also for the local community, and I commend the Brighton Secondary School for welcoming the community into their school.

In terms of the public value of the proposed project, the Public Works Committee looked into it and agreed that it would provide contemporary learning areas that would support 21st century pedagogy, create flexible learning spaces to enhance student engagement and allow collaborative teaching practices. It will also provide additional spaces to support the transition of year 7 to high school and, finally, some new, efficient facilities to replace the existing aged buildings on the school site.

All in all, the Public Works Committee saw this as a very good use of taxpayer funds. The Morphett community and also the Gibson community, I am certain, welcome this with open arms and really look forward to the students who are starting in 2022, those year 7s, when they graduate in 2027 to really have made great use of what will be a fantastic upgrade.

The Hon. L.W.K. BIGNELL (Mawson) (11:58): I rise very briefly not only as an MP for some students who are part of the wonderful music program at Brighton Secondary School but also to do a little shout out to a band that was the feature band on triple j two weeks ago. They came together as 14 year olds at Brighton Secondary School. Well done to the quintet, Bermuda Bay, and appearing on the national youth broadcasting station. It was terrific to hear their music, and as Molly Meldrum might say: do yourself a favour, go out and get Bermuda Bay's latest single that was dropped last month. It is called All My Life and is a really good listen.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:59): I am very appreciative of those members who have made a contribution. I specifically want to recognise the member for Morphett, who is very closely familiar with the school community. He has been a very passionate and determined advocate for this project, together with the member for Gibson. The member for Gibson is a past scholar of the school and so is therefore deeply familiar with the environment and, of course, very welcoming of the upgrades contemplated by this Public Works report.

I was very interested to learn about the musical success of students under the direction and encouragement of Andrew Barrett and thank the member for Morphett for bringing that matter up in the house. It was a very great interest to us. It is also right for me to recognise the governing council and principals Tony Lunniss and Olivia O'Neill, who have been very focused on bringing this project forward.

It is right for me, too, to take this opportunity in closing moments to thank the staff of the Public Works Committee, who work particularly hard. There is a large volume of documents they bring in. They are intelligent and far-sighted in relation to the matters that we want to raise with them, and our research officer is transitioning to another committee. She will not be named in this place, in accordance with the convention in relation to public servants, but it does not mean that we are less grateful for her work—we particularly are.

Motion carried.

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