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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-09-18 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: New Northern Suburbs High School

Ms HOOD (Adelaide) (11:43): I move:

That the 153rd report of the committee, entitled New Northern Suburbs High School, be noted.

The Department for Education, from here on referred to as the department, projects that population growth in the northern suburbs will soon exceed the capacity for the constrained sites of existing schools in the region. In the 2024-25 state budget, the state government allocated $155.3 million for a new high school for the northern suburbs. The new year 7-12 school will be built at Petherton Road, Eyre, in the City of Playford, where it will be located near existing and future residential developments.

The project will be delivered in accordance with the department's design standards, which set out requirements of accommodation, functions and technical specifications, ensuring contemporary educational facilities and resources that will improve accessibility to a high-quality local public education for students in, and nearby, the new housing developments in the area. The new high school will cater for 1,300 students and provide:

a high-quality teaching and learning environment reflective of modern pedagogies;

emerging learning options and pathways to further education;

a learning environment that reflects the local Aboriginal knowledge, histories and cultural practices;

the enhanced wellbeing of learners and staff, fostered across both internal and outdoor learning spaces; and

strong partnerships in collaboration with families, local business and organisations to build ties between the new high school and the community.

Design development also envisions the school to act as an integrated hub with the local neighbourhood, reflecting the characteristics and aspirations of the local community.

Three options were considered when developing the project. Option 1 planned adding modular buildings at the existing Riverbanks College to support an additional 150 places, which does not address anticipated long-term growth. Option 2 proposed a new two-storey building at the Riverbanks College for 250 students, and construction of a new 1,000-place school at the proposed site on Petherton Road. This option was rejected, as it was deemed there was inappropriate space at Riverbanks College, and that it would also cause significant disruption during construction. The preferred option, option 3, proposed a new 7 to 12 school for 1,300 students at the proposed site on Petherton Road. The scope of works included:

an administration, library and staff centre building;

four learning community buildings;

a health, fitness and performing arts building;

design, art, technologies and science facilities;

a cultural and wellbeing centre;

new sporting fields and courts;

external landscaping and outdoor learning areas; and

car parking for staff and visitors.

Construction is expected to commence this December, with the anticipation to be complete in December 2027 in time for the first school term of 2028.

The project is expected to cost $155.3 million, and recurrent costs of the school's operation as a result of this project will be funded from within the department's existing budget. The project site currently spans two certificates of title—Lot 104 and Lot 106 Petherton Road—and the department is working with Renewal SA to redraw the boundaries to create a single title. Once complete, it will be transferred from Renewal SA to the Minister for Education, Training and Skills. Land purchase transactions are expected to be completed by the end of the year.

The project implementation process governs the delivery of prescribed construction projects. As a prescribed construction project, the new northern suburbs high school will be managed and delivered by DIT (Department for Infrastructure and Transport) in accordance with the relevant requirements. The lead professional services contractor and cost management contractor have been appointed, and construction contractors will be appointed utilising general conditions of contract. All tenders have been sought from construction contractors registered in the applicable DIT prequalification system category.

Delivery of the project will follow best practice principles for project procurement and management as advocated by the state government and construction authorities, including:

evaluation and review of solutions against the brief;

preparation of a project program that reflects the scope of the project;

development of formal communications;

channels between end users, stakeholders and the department;

establishment of a cost plan;

scheduling of regular audit reviews of design documentation and construction progress; and

identification and management of potential risks and implementation of mitigation strategies.

The design team has approached design with consideration of sustainability outcomes and considerations, including:

a built form that leverages passive heating and cooling;

consideration of solar power for onsite energy generation;

energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems;

water-efficient fixtures, and landscaping that is drought-tolerant and minimises irrigation needs;

selection of sustainably and ethically sourced materials, where possible; and

a preference for recycled and re-used materials.

The department states native title has been extinguished at the project site and a search of the central archive identified no entries for Aboriginal sites at the location. It also states there are no state or local heritage places or items at this site.

The department states it is in ongoing consultation with local primary and high schools, noting that the new high school will be part of a network of schools across the northern suburbs of Adelaide. In lieu of an existing school community and leadership team for the new school, relevant subject matter experts have been consulted in the development of the brief. Once the school principal and senior staff have been appointed, they will be closely involved with further development of the project. The project team has also received input from DIT, Renewal SA and the local community concerning design and development.

The committee examined written and oral evidence in relation to the new northern suburbs high school. Witnesses who appeared before the committee were Helen Doyle, Director, Capital Projects and Technical Services, Department for Education; Layton Waters, Manager, Major Projects, Department for Infrastructure and Transport; and Michael Lambert, Director of Brown Falconer. 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.

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