Page 2445 - Week 08 - Thursday, 6 August 2015

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MR BARR: That is one possible option but by no means the only option for redevelopment associated with upgrades of Manuka Oval.

Schools—Telopea Park

MRS JONES: My question is to the Minister for Education and Training. Minister, what communication have you had with the Telopea Park School parent community and the Manuka occasional childcare association parents to explain the need for the removal of land from Telopea Park School to erect a new childcare centre?

MS BURCH: I met with representatives of the Telopea Park P&C and the board.

MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mrs Jones.

MRS JONES: Minister, in those communications, has any explanation been provided as to what steps could be taken when Telopea exceeds its capacity to accept enrolments from its priority enrolment areas, given it will have less land?

MS BURCH: Certainly the school is a very popular school. It is a local area school and priority area applies to the high school. Entry into the primary school is based on the bilingual program. We had discussions when I met with the P&C and board reps about that, and they will manage capacity. The school, like any other school that has priority areas, is committed to accepting all high school students in that area. It has a very proud tradition of following its primary school students through into the high school years. We believe that the school has the capacity and that it can manage the capacity, as do other schools across our system.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.

MR DOSZPOT: Minister, what assurances have you provided to Telopea Park School that tennis lessons will not be disrupted and will be allowed to continue until new courts are erected?

MS BURCH: The commitment to Telopea Park has been that if those tennis courts are indeed reconfigured into a childcare centre there will be an $800,000 investment to Telopea school for the Telopea school precinct. The discussion with the school community is now in play about what that investment would realise and what it would look like. I encourage the school community to have input into that so that the $800,000 invested on their school site provides what they are desiring.

MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.

MR DOSZPOT: Minister, have you consulted with the community services minister to ensure that the construction of a new childcare centre, if indeed it does go ahead, does not adversely impact on Telopea Park School’s activities?

MS BURCH: I have regular conversations with all my cabinet colleagues.


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