School building programs underway
29 August 2006
Several Territory high schools are making significant advances with their building programs ahead of the introduction of middle/senior schools next year.
The Employment, Education and Training Department’s (DET) Infrastructure Director Leanne Taylor said the Territory Government had committed more than $46 million for middle and senior school facilities.
“Development is underway at Casuarina Senior College (CSC), which will accommodate Year 10 students next year along with students from Years 11 and 12.
“Some $3.4 million is being invested at CSC on a new multi-purpose classroom, a sports pavilion, four teaching spaces and improvements to existing facilities,” she said.
Palmerston High School has also moved to implement plans for an $11 million building project.
Ms Taylor said: “The major feature of this development will be a state-of-the-art senior school wing, which will include science laboratories and a commercial kitchen. Existing classrooms and the canteen will also be upgraded and the basketball court will be relocated.”
“This is an exciting redevelopment that will transform the learning and teaching experiences at this school – and it will be something the Palmerston community can be really proud of.”
Ms Taylor said the rural area’s Taminmin High School is also well placed for a $4.6 million expansion and upgrade project. A new classroom module will be built for senior students and existing facilities will be refitted for Middle Years students.
Yet another construction program will take place at Bullocky Point where a new middle school will be built on the same site as the existing Darwin High School.
Employment, Education and Training Minister Syd Stirling will visit the building site on 1 September to view the conceptual plan for the $19.5 million project.
Ms Taylor said: “The design has taken into account the teaching and learning needs of Middle Years students and follows an examination of key design features of middle schools in other parts of Australia.”
“The school will be built in two stages. Stage One will accommodate Year 7 and 8 students, and will open for the 2008 school year, while Stage Two, for Year 9 students, will open in 2009.”
In Alice Springs, the Centralian Senior Secondary College’s building project, estimated to cost $1.3 million, is underway. New facilities include seven classrooms and an information and communication technology learning area.
Facilities at Katherine High School will be upgraded to accommodate both senior and Middle Years students, and at Nhulunbuy High School, facilities will be upgraded to accommodate Middle Years students. Their administration block will also be upgraded.
Ms Taylor said local planning groups – comprising school, school council, DET and Planning & Infrastructure representatives – would be established to oversee operations and provide a quality-control mechanism throughout the construction.
