Release date: 06/06/23

The Malinauskas Labor Government will invest $100.2 million across 66 schools and preschools in South Australia to upgrade and repair important infrastructure.

The investment, announced as part of the State Government’s 2023-24 Budget, will include facilities replacements and upgrades, removal of aged buildings, bitumen repairs, heating, ventilation and cooling upgrades, roof replacements, toilet upgrades and structural repairs.

The investment will also help to address capacity issues at a number of sites, including at Plympton International College, where $14 million will be committed to replacing existing older buildings with new, modern multi-storey buildings, as part of an overall $64.7 million focus on capital works.

Virginia Primary School and Preschool will receive $15 million to address condition and capacity pressures to ensure the buildings are suitable for the expected growth for the northern suburbs.

A $10.5 million investment will be used to construct four new gymnasiums at Brahma Lodge Primary School, The Pines School, Ingle Farm East Primary School, and Hillcrest Primary School.

The announcement was made today at the formal opening of Avenues College in Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs.

The $9.7 million redevelopment was approved under former Education Minister Susan Close in 2018 reflecting the amalgamation between Windsor Gardens Secondary College, Gilles Plains Primary School, Windsor Gardens Centre for Hearing Impaired, and Gilles Plains Children's Centre.

A new children’s centre, including a preschool, has been constructed on the site, along with the addition of outdoor learning areas for children of all ages.


Quotes

Attributable to Peter Malinauskas

Schools play an integral role in our communities and its important our students are receiving the best education in modern and appropriate facilities.

We also need to be planning ahead for capacity management and population growth and this investment will serve South Australia for future generations.

Attributable to Stephen Mullighan

Our children and young people are entitled to have safe and secure learning environments to support them, and this much needed investment will go a long way to address the maintenance challenges associated with ageing infrastructure.

Attributable to Blair Boyer

It’s critical that a 20-year capacity plan that looks at infrastructure, long-term population growth and the size of schools, is considered in a coordinated way.

Since becoming Education Minister, I quickly recognised that a number of our schools were languishing when it came to appropriate infrastructure, which is why I have already committed almost $14 million to support capital works at seven schools as a matter of urgency.

This is something the Malinauskas Labor Government is taking very seriously, and this further $100 million investment will ensure we are not only addressing capacity across our system, but equity in education across the board.

Attributable to Avenues College Principal Hamish McDonald

Our school history dates back to 1901, and these improvements will ensure our community can continue to build a long-lasting legacy.

Now that we have consolidated onto a single site, we are excited about the great potential ahead for our students learning and growth.

Attributable to Plympton International College Principal Roy Webb

We are incredibly proud of our college and what we have to offer, and this additional funding will ensure we can welcome even more students to our community in the coming years.

New, modern learning facilities will enable us to continue delivering a high-quality learning program for our students and we look forward to seeing the work get underway.