Page 3531 - Week 11 - Thursday, 22 September 2005
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This motion by Mrs Dunne would, at best, delay the opening of what will be the territory’s best school and, at worst, potentially force the abandonment of plans to provide this top-flight educational opportunity to an area in Canberra of undeniable need. A new inquiry would not make the consultative process any clearer for the community; in fact, it would cause unnecessary confusion and concern. There is already a very robust consultative process in place. There is simply no need to introduce a superfluous political inquiry designed to score political points rather than to add to the consultation.
The new school complex proposed to be built on the site of the existing Ginninderra district high school is designed to provide, and will provide, to the young people of west Belconnen unparalleled educational facilities and opportunities. Schools of the 21st century need to be more adaptable and to respond to new ways of teaching and learning. The best are able to provide students with exciting learning opportunities through a range of innovative facilities, including new technologies and specialised equipment. Students at ACT government schools deserve the best opportunities, the broadest choices and the best facilities. That is the expectation of the people of Canberra and the commitment of this government. It is what this proposed development will deliver to the people of west Belconnen.
The new school will include specialist technology areas catering for project development, design, construction, electronics and robotics. It will provide purpose-built facilities for visual arts, for textiles, for media, for music, for drama, and for home science. It will provide a library with defined areas for various age groupings and it will provide a multipurpose gymnasium capable of hosting dramatic and music performances and other presentations. That is what the government is offering. That is the proposal that we are consulting on, and the consultation process is proceeding well.
Since the announcement of the proposal in July, the government has undertaken a comprehensive community consultation process. The minister for education and I have had many questions, comments, alternative suggestions and indications of support from many people in the community. There have been a number of comments through web sites, through individual letters and phone calls, and from those attending one of the many meetings facilitated by the department. Meetings have been held with a broad range of stakeholders, including the ACT Parents and Citizens Association, some school P&C associations, the Belconnen Community Council, the Canberra Preschool Society, the ACT Community Council and Belconnen Community Services.
Open days were held at Amaroo school, with free bus transport from Ginninderra district high school, so that the community could see what a comprehensive P to 10 school would look like and ask questions as to how it would work. Further open days at Amaroo will be held in October. There have been two community forums at Ginninderra district high school, one in July and one last Wednesday night. Consultation is continuing and the web site is continually being updated with information in response to questions from the community.
Mr Speaker, my government is providing comprehensive information on the proposal. Any person who attends a meeting, requests information or goes to the department’s web site will find all the information available. Included on the web site are briefing papers on the proposed new school and the concept of middle schooling. There is detailed
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