❓ Mr Rundle questions the government's land acquisition approach for the inner-city primary school, alleging bullying tactics. The Minister defends the project, highlighting its benefits and criticising potential delays due to land negotiations.
AnsweredQoN 64Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INNER-CITY
PRIMARY SCHOOL — LAND
64. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to recent reports of the state government's
most unusual offer to the City of Perth for land associated with the planned inner-city primary school. Does this
government think it can now bully any council into forfeiting land by
dreaming up some bizarre cost–benefit analysis for adjoining land
instead of paying the fair market value or providing a land swap?
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members, thank you.
PRIMARY SCHOOL — LAND
64. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Minister for Education:
I refer to recent reports of the state government's
most unusual offer to the City of Perth for land associated with the planned inner-city primary school. Does this
government think it can now bully any council into forfeiting land by
dreaming up some bizarre cost–benefit analysis for adjoining land
instead of paying the fair market value or providing a land swap?
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members, thank you.
AnswerView source ↗
As the Minister for Education in the Cook Labor government, I
will stand up for quality public education in Western
Australia and I will stand up for trying to also provide quality schooling in
the inner-city areas of Perth! That is what I will stand up for, member.
We are committing to a significant investment into this school. If we were to
have to pay for additional land, maybe we would not be able to do the things in
Esperance that the member wants us to do. Does he want me to spend money on a project
without the cooperation of the City of Perth instead of looking at some
regional school improvements? What would the member prefer?
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
Point of Order
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : The last time
I checked, question time is for the government to answer questions.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Thank
you. There is no point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr A.D. BUTI : The new
inner-city primary school that is being proposed will be a major boost for the
city. It will not only attract families to the heart of the city but also
provide very necessary amenities to bring more people and vibrancy to the inner
city. The school was scheduled to open for the start of the 2028 school year,
for students in kindergarten to year 6; however, any further delays in
negotiations with the City of Perth could see that target pushed back. The proposal will provide a major
benefit to the city of around $63 million because we will be unlocking land that can be used by the city. At the moment, under the Chevron–Hilton
Hotel Agreement Act, that land has to be used for a car park. That is it; it
has to be used for a car park. We are proposing a state-of-the-art world-first inner-city vertical primary school and unlocking
land that the city can use in the future. The member does not have to
listen to me; he can go to the Lord Mayor's newsletter of 19 April
2023, when he made the announcement. He stated —
Hello again,
I'm thrilled to be able to
share today the State Government in partnership with the City of Perth has
announced a significant milestone towards the establishment of a primary school
in East Perth.
I was delighted to join Education
Minister Tony Buti, Planning Minister Rita Saffioti and Lands Minister and
Member for Perth John Carey for the announcement.
As you know a primary school is an
absolute priority for the City, and one your City of Perth Council has been
championing since our election.
A
local primary school for local families is essential, and will further turbo
charge our inner city residential population.
As I have alluded to in previous
updates, I have been very pleased to be able to work with the State Government
on behalf of the City to help deliver a project of this significance.
This is a partnership. We are working
to achieve this outcome together.
PREFERRED SITE CHOSEN
The State Government have identified
two of the three City of Perth car parks opposite Queens Gardens on Nelson
Crescent near the WACA as their preferred site for the primary school.
The preferred site has great merit �
We will undertake � due diligence �
He then stated —
Currently the State Government is
proposing to take approximately 50 per cent of the total car park site (closest
to Gloucester Park) and build the primary school as indicated above.
It has a photo, a diagram —
The remaining 50 per cent of the site
(closest to Plain Street) would be retained by the City of Perth—but
with the current Chevron Hilton Act rescinded.
This would effectively allow the City
to explore the best possible opportunities and development potential for that
land.
Ms R. Saffioti : It's
a win-win!
Dr A.D. BUTI : It is a win-win.
It is a win for the City of Perth and a win for people who live in the City of
Perth but, more importantly, a win for the children of the inner city. That is
what we are about, member! I thought that, as shadow Minister for Education,
the member would be supporting us rather than the Lord Mayor of Perth, who may
be writing his questions; I do not know.
But there is more! What we are doing
is not unusual, member. Local governments have worked together with the state
government to identify appropriate land for significant projects in the past,
such as building primary schools or other key infrastructure projects that have
major community benefits. For example, a good local government that worked with
the state government for the betterment of the city was the City of Joondalup
with its contribution of 11 hectares of
freehold land to the state government to support the delivery of the
world-class Ocean Reef Marina . We are
talking about 11 hectares of waterfront land that was provided by the City of
Joondalup to the state government for free, acknowledging the huge
investment the state will undertake to transform the Ocean Reef Marina.
Member, a new primary school in East
Perth is too important to play politics with.
will stand up for quality public education in Western
Australia and I will stand up for trying to also provide quality schooling in
the inner-city areas of Perth! That is what I will stand up for, member.
We are committing to a significant investment into this school. If we were to
have to pay for additional land, maybe we would not be able to do the things in
Esperance that the member wants us to do. Does he want me to spend money on a project
without the cooperation of the City of Perth instead of looking at some
regional school improvements? What would the member prefer?
Several members interjected.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Members!
Point of Order
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : The last time
I checked, question time is for the government to answer questions.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Thank
you. There is no point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Dr A.D. BUTI : The new
inner-city primary school that is being proposed will be a major boost for the
city. It will not only attract families to the heart of the city but also
provide very necessary amenities to bring more people and vibrancy to the inner
city. The school was scheduled to open for the start of the 2028 school year,
for students in kindergarten to year 6; however, any further delays in
negotiations with the City of Perth could see that target pushed back. The proposal will provide a major
benefit to the city of around $63 million because we will be unlocking land that can be used by the city. At the moment, under the Chevron–Hilton
Hotel Agreement Act, that land has to be used for a car park. That is it; it
has to be used for a car park. We are proposing a state-of-the-art world-first inner-city vertical primary school and unlocking
land that the city can use in the future. The member does not have to
listen to me; he can go to the Lord Mayor's newsletter of 19 April
2023, when he made the announcement. He stated —
Hello again,
I'm thrilled to be able to
share today the State Government in partnership with the City of Perth has
announced a significant milestone towards the establishment of a primary school
in East Perth.
I was delighted to join Education
Minister Tony Buti, Planning Minister Rita Saffioti and Lands Minister and
Member for Perth John Carey for the announcement.
As you know a primary school is an
absolute priority for the City, and one your City of Perth Council has been
championing since our election.
A
local primary school for local families is essential, and will further turbo
charge our inner city residential population.
As I have alluded to in previous
updates, I have been very pleased to be able to work with the State Government
on behalf of the City to help deliver a project of this significance.
This is a partnership. We are working
to achieve this outcome together.
PREFERRED SITE CHOSEN
The State Government have identified
two of the three City of Perth car parks opposite Queens Gardens on Nelson
Crescent near the WACA as their preferred site for the primary school.
The preferred site has great merit �
We will undertake � due diligence �
He then stated —
Currently the State Government is
proposing to take approximately 50 per cent of the total car park site (closest
to Gloucester Park) and build the primary school as indicated above.
It has a photo, a diagram —
The remaining 50 per cent of the site
(closest to Plain Street) would be retained by the City of Perth—but
with the current Chevron Hilton Act rescinded.
This would effectively allow the City
to explore the best possible opportunities and development potential for that
land.
Ms R. Saffioti : It's
a win-win!
Dr A.D. BUTI : It is a win-win.
It is a win for the City of Perth and a win for people who live in the City of
Perth but, more importantly, a win for the children of the inner city. That is
what we are about, member! I thought that, as shadow Minister for Education,
the member would be supporting us rather than the Lord Mayor of Perth, who may
be writing his questions; I do not know.
But there is more! What we are doing
is not unusual, member. Local governments have worked together with the state
government to identify appropriate land for significant projects in the past,
such as building primary schools or other key infrastructure projects that have
major community benefits. For example, a good local government that worked with
the state government for the betterment of the city was the City of Joondalup
with its contribution of 11 hectares of
freehold land to the state government to support the delivery of the
world-class Ocean Reef Marina . We are
talking about 11 hectares of waterfront land that was provided by the City of
Joondalup to the state government for free, acknowledging the huge
investment the state will undertake to transform the Ocean Reef Marina.
Member, a new primary school in East
Perth is too important to play politics with.
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