❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Education about overcrowding at Highgate Primary School and the need for a new school. The Minister acknowledges the issue, details investments in Highgate, and states plans are underway for a new inner-city school.
AnsweredQoN 193Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HIGHGATE PRIMARY SCHOOL
193. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the rapid increase in the
enrolment numbers at Highgate Primary School, which have increased from 567 to
930 over the past five years, and to the real issue of overcrowding impacting
the school community. Given the $13 billion in budget surpluses over the past
three years of this government, and the previous identification of new school
sites by the Department of Education, when and where will the government build
a new school to alleviate the pressures on the staff and students at Highgate
Primary?
193. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to the rapid increase in the
enrolment numbers at Highgate Primary School, which have increased from 567 to
930 over the past five years, and to the real issue of overcrowding impacting
the school community. Given the $13 billion in budget surpluses over the past
three years of this government, and the previous identification of new school
sites by the Department of Education, when and where will the government build
a new school to alleviate the pressures on the staff and students at Highgate
Primary?
AnswerView source ↗
I believe the member paid a visit to
Highgate Primary School during the week, and he would have seen what a fantastic
school it is and how the principal —
Mr P.J. Rundle : Yes, and it's
very overcrowded.
Dr
A.D. BUTI : The principal spoke
very highly of the local member and the government when I went for my visit ,
and I assume he did the same to the member. Did he say to the member what a great
job the government is doing? Did he tell the member that?
Several members interjected.
Dr A.D. BUTI : Since 2017 the
state government has invested $1.8 million on various infrastructure upgrades
at Highgate Primary School, with an additional $50 000 for high-priority
maintenance works, and another $1 million for transportable accommodation to
support the increasing enrolments at the school. We also secured 785 square
metres of extra land, which I am sure the member would have seen, that has been
used by the school since 2022. The Department of Education recently had a meeting
with the City of Vincent to look at potential options for shared use of open
space.
The Department of Education has been
actively involved in monitoring the enrolment growth in that area, and plans
are well advanced for preparation of a business case to address the enrolment
pressures at Highgate Primary School. The local member for Perth has been a strong
advocate in that space for a number of years. We are progressing the issue of
an inner-city or CBD primary school, but it is an incredibly important decision
to make. There are significant issues and challenges when we build a new school
in the inner city, whether that be traffic management,
contamination, suitable ground conditions et cetera. I can assure the member
that we are well advanced in looking at building another school in the
area, and, as I have just said, we have spent significant amounts of money and
investment in Highgate Primary, as the member would know from his visit.
With regard to the issue of toilets,
the member would know that there is a sufficient number of toilets at Highgate Primary.
The issue is that an additional building has been put in and that has resulted
in some toilets being used more than others.
The department, the local member, the Minister for Planning and I, and the
whole of government, are working very carefully and methodically and are
looking at when we will be able to make an announcement about a possible new
inner-city primary school.
Highgate Primary School during the week, and he would have seen what a fantastic
school it is and how the principal —
Mr P.J. Rundle : Yes, and it's
very overcrowded.
Dr
A.D. BUTI : The principal spoke
very highly of the local member and the government when I went for my visit ,
and I assume he did the same to the member. Did he say to the member what a great
job the government is doing? Did he tell the member that?
Several members interjected.
Dr A.D. BUTI : Since 2017 the
state government has invested $1.8 million on various infrastructure upgrades
at Highgate Primary School, with an additional $50 000 for high-priority
maintenance works, and another $1 million for transportable accommodation to
support the increasing enrolments at the school. We also secured 785 square
metres of extra land, which I am sure the member would have seen, that has been
used by the school since 2022. The Department of Education recently had a meeting
with the City of Vincent to look at potential options for shared use of open
space.
The Department of Education has been
actively involved in monitoring the enrolment growth in that area, and plans
are well advanced for preparation of a business case to address the enrolment
pressures at Highgate Primary School. The local member for Perth has been a strong
advocate in that space for a number of years. We are progressing the issue of
an inner-city or CBD primary school, but it is an incredibly important decision
to make. There are significant issues and challenges when we build a new school
in the inner city, whether that be traffic management,
contamination, suitable ground conditions et cetera. I can assure the member
that we are well advanced in looking at building another school in the
area, and, as I have just said, we have spent significant amounts of money and
investment in Highgate Primary, as the member would know from his visit.
With regard to the issue of toilets,
the member would know that there is a sufficient number of toilets at Highgate Primary.
The issue is that an additional building has been put in and that has resulted
in some toilets being used more than others.
The department, the local member, the Minister for Planning and I, and the
whole of government, are working very carefully and methodically and are
looking at when we will be able to make an announcement about a possible new
inner-city primary school.
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