Page 3162 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 20 August 2019
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learning outcomes for all children and young people. As student needs change over time, physical environments should be flexible enough to respond and adapt to the future needs of students and families in an evolving education system.
Infrastructure upgrades are one important way of ensuring that public schools are places where students feel safe, welcome and ready to learn. In 2017 the ACT government allocated $85 million for the public school infrastructure upgrade program. This delivered on a key government election commitment. The government extended its commitment to public school infrastructure with a further $17.96 million delivered in the 2018 budget for the roof replacement program, and $15.96 million in 2019 for energy efficient heating upgrades, bringing the ACT government’s investment in school upgrades to well over $100 million.
Through these investments Canberra’s public schools are being renewed with new learning spaces, toilets and change rooms, car parks and bicycle parking facilities, garden and horticultural facilities. There is also a range of upgraded outdoor learning and teaching environments being delivered through this investment, including sensory gardens, cultural spaces and playgrounds.
To assist schools to be more efficient in their energy use and improve the comfort of students and staff, a program of targeted efficiency upgrades and building audits is being undertaken annually. The program is improving maintenance of internal temperatures, efficiency of building heating and cooling systems, and reducing gas and electricity usage. Solar panel expansions and an annual tree planting program are also part of the infrastructure upgrades being delivered in schools.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, what school upgrades has the ACT government delivered in 2019?
MS BERRY: The ACT government has committed to a number of school administration area upgrades and these have been completed at Neville Bonner Primary School, Malkara School and Lanyon High School as well as Dickson College where upgrades have been completed on student toilets. The cafe at the Woden school has also been upgraded and a new disability hoist and specialist play equipment have been installed at Black Mountain School, including an in-ground trampoline, Roman rings, squeeze tubes, climbing structures and mirrors, a water misting arch, storage shed and rubber soft fall.
I am also pleased to advise that the Erindale College Active Leisure Centre has also been reopened following extensive repairs. Turner Primary School has also had upgrades to the glazing of the hydrotherapy pool area as well as their change rooms. Car park upgrades have been completed at Theodore Primary School and Wanniassa Hills Primary School, with works nearing completion at Amaroo School and at Fraser Primary School. Secure bicycle parking facilities have also been installed at Calwell Primary School and Latham Primary School.
Outdoor learning upgrades have been completed at Hughes Preschool and Kaleen and Latham primary schools. In addition, Fadden, Hawker, Wanniassa Hills, Monash, Garran, Bonython and Wanniassa schools and Caroline Chisholm Junior School were
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