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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-08-26 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Roxby Downs Area School Redevelopment

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:51): I think this might be my last contribution as part of the Cregan hour and, with the diminishing number of days remaining in this parliament, my fondness for this particular part of our programming only grows. I move:

That the 112th report of the committee for the Fifty-Fourth Parliament, entitled Roxby Downs Area School Redevelopment Project, be noted.

Roxby Downs Area School is located on Richardson Place, Roxby Downs, within the municipal council of Roxby Downs. The Downs Area School is located at the centre of the Roxby township. It shares a number of community facilities, including a leisure centre, ovals and sports courts. The curriculum focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, Yakarti Aboriginal studies, art and drama.

Roxby Downs Area School had 599 enrolments, and the proposed works will deliver a total school enrolment capacity of 820 places by 2022. Roxby Downs Area School was allocated funding of $7 million as part of the Department for Education's capital works program announced in October 2017. The proposed redevelopment will consist of demolition and refurbishment of existing facilities to accommodate 820 students on the Roxby Downs Area School site.

The Roxby Downs school redevelopment project will include the following important scope of works: refurbishment of existing buildings to create new general learning and technology spaces and associated breakout areas; refurbishment of an existing building, including food, technology, general learning areas and soundproofing of a music room and drama studio; creation of a new common landscaped area to include an amphitheatre and an open-air performance space; demolition of aged transportable buildings. There will also be, of course as necessary, ancillary works.

The proposed redevelopment works will be staged, with construction expected to commence in September 2020 and be completed in November 2021. The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to this project and received assurances that the appropriate consultation in relation to this 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 as described in the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991. 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 does recommend the proposed scope of the work I have outlined to the house.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER (Morialta—Minister for Education) (11:54): I wish to speak briefly on the project as outlined by the member for Kavel. The Roxby Downs Area School is a school with 564 students, with indeed an expectation of some growth as a result of the year 7 to high school project. Substantially, this project will upgrade the facilities, including the demolition of ageing infrastructure; refurbishment of general learning areas, teaching spaces, breakout areas; the refurbishment of the food technology building which, of course, includes general learning areas; and soundproofing of the music rooms and the drama studio. Part of the project that I know the school is very excited about is the amphitheatre and open air performance space.

I have not been to Roxby Downs Area School. I very much want to go. I had a video call with Annette Williams, the principal, not so long ago in May and discussed this project, which is on track for completion in November. I am looking forward to seeing the final project and, hopefully, at some stage being able to visit the school itself.

I congratulate Annette as principal on leading the project. She is an outstanding South Australian with a very strong track record of not only supporting schools but also the broader community and young people. I am looking forward to seeing the work of Phillips/Pilkington Architects and builder Pascale Construction finalised. I congratulate all involved with this tremendous project, with a budget of $7 million, which will support the education and learning in the world-class facilities being delivered at Roxby Downs.

Mr HUGHES (Giles) (11:55): I also welcome this project. As the member said, Annette Williams is an exceptional principal at Roxby Downs. It is good to see bipartisan support for Roxby Downs, especially for the development of facilities, whether at school or whether it is early childhood, in Roxby Downs under the previous and current governments. I do welcome that. Roxby Downs is sometimes seen—and I think mistakenly—as a relatively privileged community. Just about everybody has a job. A reasonable number of people are on high incomes in Roxby Downs, but they do have their own very particular challenges.

I was in Roxby Downs again just recently and visited the school. One of the challenges that especially more remote communities have, when it comes to our schools, is the turnover of staff. Next year, the Roxby Downs school will lose 30 staff. That is a huge turnover and clearly has a real impact. I would be a very strong supporter of looking at country incentives, anything we can do to enhance the continuity of the educational experiences that students have in places like Roxby Downs and Coober Pedy.

People are probably aware that the age profile in Roxby Downs does not reflect the average age profile of the state—it is a much younger community—and people are probably also aware that between a couple of census periods there is a very significant turnover in the population of Roxby Downs. That all adds to some of the challenges in that community. However, it is great to see the physical resources in the community being improved by both the previous Labor government and by the current government.

Mr CREGAN (Kavel) (11:57): I thank the member for his contribution and dedication to his community and recommend the project.

Motion carried.

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