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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-05-02 Daily Xml
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Schools Upgrade Fund

Mr ODENWALDER (Elizabeth) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Education, Training and Skills. Can the minister provide the house with information on any recent infrastructure grants to South Australian schools?

The Hon. B.I. BOYER (Wright—Minister for Education, Training and Skills) (15:02): I thank the member for Elizabeth for his question. We have had some positive news this week for public schools in South Australia with round two of the federal government Schools Upgrade Fund being announced. This was $17 million collectively for 18 schools right around the state, each to receive at least $250,000 for a whole range of projects, including upgrading of food tech spaces, home economics classrooms, installing new playground equipment, and resurfacing sports courts.

I want to thank the federal government for their support. We had, of course, a great deal of interest from public schools in South Australia that were asked to put in an application. I don't for one second pretend that these 17 projects and $18 million is going to meet all the need that is out there in terms of infrastructure upgrades, but it was very, very welcome and will be put to absolutely good use as well.

One of the things I think that people in this place will find pleasing—certainly, a number of members of parliament on the other side—is that there were a number of regional, rural and remote schools in South Australia that attracted funding, and I thought I might use this opportunity to run through a few of those projects.

The member for Giles isn't here today, but a number of schools in his electorate received funding. We had the Coober Pedy Area School that received $1 million for toilet and change room upgrades; Flinders View Primary School, new covered sports courts; the Hawker Area School, a covered outdoor learning area; and Hincks Avenue Primary School, which is in Whyalla, received a new administration building upgrade.

Fisk Street Primary School, also in Whyalla, received new fencing and gates, locks and resurfacing to existing courts as well. In the member for Flinders' electorate, Kirton Point Primary School received $250,000 for playground equipment and a fitness station as well; Koonibba Aboriginal School received $1.4 million for refurbishment and the building of a new administration building and upgrades to fencing; and Lincoln Gardens Primary School received $400,000 for a new playground.

In the member for Hammond's electorate: Murray Bridge South Primary School, $1.1 million for the refurbishment of student toilets and shade structures over playgrounds. In the member for Elizabeth's seat, a number of schools as well: Elizabeth East Primary School receiving $400,000 for primary classrooms and corridor refurbishment; Elizabeth Grove, upgrade of the admin building and new toilet facilities; Elizabeth Park, $1.5 million for STEM centre redevelopment and classroom refurbs; Kaurna Plains, $900,000 for an extension of the admin building, and a new gym building as well.

The member for Stuart: the Augusta Park Primary School is getting $3 million for the resource centre upgrade and outdoor learning environment upgrade; Marree Aboriginal School, $850,000 for upgrades to outdoor areas, including shade structures and pool repairs as well. The member for Narungga: Central Yorke School is getting $410,000 for new nature play spaces and the refurbishment of the gym and the home economics space.

The member for Hurtle Vale: Hackham West Primary School, which I know was a school that was in great need of a bit more funding—almost $1 million there for new outdoor learning spaces. The member for Taylor: Swallowcliffe School, which is a school I have been to on a number of occasions—almost $400,000 there for the refurbishment of indoor and outdoor learning spaces.

I want to put on the record this government's thanks for the support from the federal Minister for Education, Jason Clare, and the federal government more broadly. We know there is a lot more to do in this space, but we know that this money will be welcomed; it will be put to good use. I think a number of those schools in some parts of our state that don't always get the same attention as metropolitan schools are the ones who are benefiting most from the $18 million that has been announced here.

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