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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-06-10 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Highgate School Redevelopment

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:50): I move:

That the 117th report of the committee for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament, entitled Highgate School Redevelopment Project, be noted.

As you are aware, Mr Speaker, Highgate School is located on Hampstead Avenue in Highgate. The Department for Education has advised that in 2017 the school implemented a French-Australian bilingual program, which has the support of the French Ministry of Education under the auspices of the French Embassy in Canberra. Students participating in the program learn from a combined Australian-French curriculum, incorporating both countries' national curricula.

Highgate School was initially allocated funding of $5 million as part of the Department for Education's capital works program. This funding allocation was confirmed on the change of government in March 2018. Capital works are required at Highgate School to provide additional accommodation to support the anticipated growth in student enrolment numbers, accommodating approximately 850 students on the Highgate School site by 2022. There is also aged accommodation on the school site that requires demolition and replacement with modern educational accommodation.

The proposed scope for the Highgate School redevelopment project will include the construction of new buildings providing general learning areas, serviced learning areas, breakout spaces, teacher preparation and withdrawal spaces, amenities and storage; the construction of two storage sheds; demolition of two buildings; demolition of site infrastructure; landscaping and paving; and new outdoor learning spaces, including resurfacing of an asphalt play area. It is anticipated that the proposed Highgate School redevelopment project works will have commenced and be completed later this calendar year.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to this project and received assurances that the appropriate consultation in relation to the project had been undertaken. The committee is satisfied that the proposal has been subject to the appropriate agency consultation and does meet the criteria for the examination of projects contemplated by the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991.

Based on the evidence considered, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament, by way of my report, that it recommends the proposed scope of works I have outlined.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (11:53): I thank the Public Works Committee for its consideration of the report into the project, worth $5 million, at Highgate School that is being undertaken this year. This is a project that forms part of the Marshall Liberal government's $1.3 billion record infrastructure investment in our public school system in South Australia, seeking, as we are, to ensure that our schools are offering world-class facilities to go alongside the world-class teaching and learning being delivered by our teachers and our leaders in our schools.

At Highgate School we truly do have world-class teaching and learning going on. The principal, Nicola Brelsford, is an experienced principal in the public education system in South Australia, an extremely well-regarded principal. Indeed, I know her former school, Norwood Primary School, was sorry to lose her, although they are doing very well under their new leadership too. At Highgate they have very much welcomed her leadership.

The French bilingual program was introduced under the previous government but underfunded, in that it was funded for only one class to go forward. The demand, the need, with French nationals coming to South Australia with their families, many of them involved in the submarine program—which will be increasing in the years ahead—alongside other people living in the area, means there is a particularly high level of interest in that French program.

This government doubled that to two classes being provided for and, going forward, I think that will provide a much stronger cohort of French speakers with a solid bilingual education ultimately going into high school programs in the years ahead. The teaching and learning in the Highgate School bilingual program is, of course, matched by high-quality teaching and learning in the mainstream program at the school. This is a school that has a solid history in performing arts. I remember that when I was there in late 2018 the quality of the kids' performances we saw was very strong. I know the member for Unley continues to enjoy the good relationship with the school.

I want to commend Nicola Brelsford and her team for leading this project; Totalspace Design, the architects; Brimblecombe Builders for the work they are doing; and the governing council. The governing council is one of the most active and engaged governing councils of any school in the state. There are a few really engaged governing councils in our public schools around South Australia but the Highgate School governing council is right up there among them.

I commend those volunteers in particular for the contribution they are making to the school, including to this project. I cannot wait to see it completed at the end of the year, and I know that it will enhance the ability of the teachers, the staff and the educators at Highgate School to deliver their excellent programs in the years ahead.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:56): As I earlier remarked in this place, but I think it bears repeating, the minister has had carriage of one of the most significant public capital works programs in any department in the state's history, and this project is but one example. It is an important one, of course, for this school community and also an important one for our relationship with the French community, ensuring that we have appropriate language skills available to us as we see through a significant submarine contract. But, of course, this is a school that is very well respected and regarded within its own community and one that we are keen to invest in and support for the future.

Motion carried.

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