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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-04-03 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Open Access College Library and Student Services Refurbishment

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:44): I move:

That the 125th report of the committee, entitled Open Access College Library and Student Services Refurbishment, be noted.

Open Access College, hereon referred to as the college, is co-located with Marden Senior College on a shared campus located on Marden Road within the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters. The college was established in 1991 to provide a complete education, as well as learning experiences for students who are unable to attend a traditional school. This might include for reasons of health, travel, elite sport or work commitments.

As of the August 2024 census, the college has approximately four and a half thousand enrolments with a total capacity of 5,000 students based upon current staffing and resourcing. Teaching at the college occurs through a blended approach of online classes, virtual small group classes and face-to-face opportunities, such as workshops and laboratory sessions.

The refurbishment proposed by the Department for Education will provide flexible and contemporary facilities that aim to create modern and educational accommodation that supports students and staff. The facilities will consider provisions for persons with disabilities in line with the Disability Discrimination Act and comply with all legislative requirements. The multidisciplinary learning environment will develop creative learning spaces that enhance student engagement and allow collaborative teaching practices, facilitate future administrative requirements and support the health and wellbeing of staff and students.

The redevelopment will refurbish existing college buildings 4 and 5, which house student services and the library resource centre. The works will provide new library resource spaces, new administration and staff workplaces, general learning and breakout areas, storage, meeting spaces, amenities for staff and an outdoor learning area. The internal fit-outs will combine the use of timber and bronze anodised aluminium framing, as well as install acoustic baffles and absorptive ceilings to minimise disruptive noise.

The refurbishment of building 4 will retain the existing high-level windows to maximise the available daylight to meeting rooms and workspaces and to ensure acoustic separation from the educational spaces. The mechanical plant will be contained within bulkheads. Building 5 will continue to predominantly support the use of its existing grid pattern, using contrasting circular elements and implementation of a light shelf to reflect daylight from windows. A small wooden veranda is also proposed as an addition to the west of building 5, with access via a sliding door. The project imagines minimal landscaping changes as most of the work is occurring internally.

The project is expected to cost $6 million and any change in the recurrent cost of the school's operation as a result of the refurbishment will be funded from the department's existing resources. Beyond the formal construction contract, there are no outstanding land purchase transactions or agreements necessary. The project will advance in one stage and all works to take place on the college site.

Construction is expected to commence this May, with the aim to be complete in October. Students and staff will remain at the school during construction and the constructor's compound will clearly delineate school operations from the construction works. Any potential disruptions will be kept to a minimum, with a preference to program works during school holidays, weekends and out-of-hours periods.

The refurbishment will be managed and delivered by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) in line with relevant requirements of the project implementation process that governs prescribed construction processes. The professional services and cost management contractors were appointed in January of last year and the department states that construction contractors will be appointed using general conditions of contract. Tenders will be sought from construction contractors registered in the applicable DIT Prequalification System category.

The project will follow best practice principles for procurement and management as advocated by the state government construction industry authorities. The department states an assessment has indicated a medium level of project risk and that mitigation measures include the selection of a project team experienced in the delivery of education projects, as well as DIT support providing full project risk management services in management design, cost procurement and construction.

Project design has incorporated sustainability strategies to reduce energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the project. The project has identified initiatives including:

prioritising low embodied energy materials;

the maximisation of natural lighting;

consideration of finish materials;

a requirement that new lighting be LED;

the selection of water-efficient fixtures;

a mechanical system that utilises energy recovery, ventilators, carbon dioxide control and economy cycles; as well as

the recycling and re-use of demolition materials where possible.

The installation of additional openable windows to the resource building will also provide increased daylight and better ventilation, and increased double glazing of doors and windows will increase the energy efficiency of heating and cooling.

The proposed works are within the Kaurna people's native title claim, and the department confirms that native title has been extinguished at the project site. The central archive has no entries for Aboriginal sites in the project area. A search of the SA Heritage Places Database confirms there are no state or local heritage places or contributory heritage items on the site.

The department has been in ongoing consultation with the school staff and governing council, who, along with the college principal and education director, have endorsed the refurbishment and scope of the works. Documentation for the project has been circulated amongst government departments and agencies for review, and the resultant feedback has informed development of the project.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the Open Access College library and student services refurbishment. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Helen Doyle, Director, Capital Projects and Technical Services, Department for Education; John Callea, Assistant Director, Building Projects, Infrastructure Delivery, Department for Infrastructure and Transport; and Guy Berry, Senior Associate Architect, Phillips/Pilkington Architects Pty Ltd. I thank the witnesses for their time.

Based upon 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 work.

Motion carried.

The SPEAKER: You are reminding me of the senator in the US who spoke for 24 hours without a break two days ago, member for Adelaide. Thank you for your tireless work.

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