As part of the annual Public School Infrastructure Renewal Program, the ACT Government has allocated more than $22 million for 2023-24 to improve infrastructure at 37 Canberra public schools.

“This funding is part of the ACT Government’s election commitment to deliver $99 million in ACT public school infrastructure upgrades, to ensure every ACT public school is a great school,” Yvette Berry, ACT Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, said.

“Infrastructure improvement projects include improved classrooms, new and upgraded outdoor learning areas, new bike storage, new and upgraded walkways and access ramps, landscaping works, improved staff facilities and new school signage.”

The investment follows a 2021 government inquiry into the management of ACT school infrastructure.

Canberra Liberals MLA Jeremy Hanson, shadow minister for education and acting party leader, said: “This government has neglected and run down our public schools and is now playing catch up.  If they continue to spend billions on trams, it is evident our public schools will never be maintained at the standard our students and teachers deserve.”

In 2021, the Canberra Liberals published an education strategy, which argued that school infrastructure was ageing and under-funded; some schools were in “a dangerous state of disrepair”. Other classes were overcrowded. Schools designed for 500 children were now attended by 1,000; while demountables might serve as temporary classrooms (some erected 40 years ago), they did not solve the problem of twice as many children using toilets, libraries, and other facilities.

“ACT public schools are continually being upgraded to ensure that all students can take full advantage of educational opportunities,” Ms Berry said.

• What do you think about ACT school infrastructure? Tell the government (10 May 2021)
• Liberals give ACT Government a failing school report (21 June 2021)
• Liberals’ report criticises education strategy and school infrastructure (22 June 2021)
• Government rejects Liberals’ education inquiry (26 June 2021)

This year, 51 school projects in 37 schools are receiving funding for infrastructure projects across all ACT regions:

• 9 schools in the Belconnen region
  • Evatt Primary School: $900,000: upgrades to specialist (science, art) classrooms and toilets; landscaping
  • Belconnen High School: $500,000: gymnasium changerooms, add unisex changeroom / toilet
  • UC Lake Ginninderra College: $400,000: IT room upgrade and toilets
  • Macquarie Primary School: $350,000: staff toilets and classroom upgrades
  • Florey Primary School and preschool: $300,000: staff room and toilets upgrade
  • Latham Primary School: $250,000: 3/4 & kindergarten external outdoor learning space and inclusive ramps
  • Mt Rogers Primary School: $250,000: staff toilets last upgraded in 1973
  • Melba Copland Secondary School and College: $150,000: high school classroom upgrades
  • Giralang Primary School: $50,000: LED school sign
• 8 schools in the North/Gungahlin region
  • Ainslie Primary School: $900,000: out of school hours care / early years learning; front office and sick bay upgrade
  • Lyneham High School: $450,000: replace the bicycle enclosure fencing to prevent theft; classroom upgrades
  • Ngunnawal Primary School and Preschool: $350,000: external learning areas
  • Campbell High School: $250,000: bike shelter
  • Harrison School: $250,000: staffroom upgrades
  • O’Connor Cooperative School: $150,000: car park resurfacing and linemarking
  • Palmerston District Primary School: $100,000: create Indigenous landscape behind new transportable classrooms
• 11 schools in the South/Weston region
  • Telopea Park School: $750,000: expand primary office and sick bay spaces (currently far too small to function adequately)
  • Arawang Primary School: $600,000: air conditioning classroom and hall; create outdoor learning area in centre of junior school (school operating at capacity)
  • Farrer Primary School: $450,000: shade structures; staff toilets (50 years old)
  • Woden School: $450,000: shade structure external learning environments; school hall upgrades
  • Lyons ECS: $350,000: upgrade front of school to create a public presence
  • Malkara School: $300,000: rebuild gym stage
  • Melrose High School: $300,000: LED lighting throughout the school
  • Curtin Primary School: $400,000: shade structure; accessible stage
  • Hughes Primary School: $250,000: install covered outdoor learning equipment
  • Duffy Primary School: $200,000: upgrades to preschool student toilets
  • Forrest Primary School: $100,000: first aid room
• 9 schools in the Tuggeranong region
  • Birrigai: $1,500,000: all-weather teaching and learning space and student rest area; inclusive footpaths, access ramps, wheelchair access; fix external signage (inaccurate and out of date)
  • Gilmore Primary School: $1,150,000: bike/scooter enclosure and teaching kitchen canteen upgrades; staff toilets (50 years old)
  • Monash Primary School and Preschool: $850,000: front office and staffroom carpet upgrade; oval upgrades
  • Richardson Primary School: $700,000: canteen upgrades; student toilets
  • Erindale Leisure Centre: $300,000: upgrade student bathrooms
  • Gordon Primary School: $550,000: school fence around oval; shade structure external learning area
  • Isabella Plains ECS: $250,000: upgrade staff toilets
  • Namadgi School: $200,000: install covered walkways
  • Theodore Primary School: $50,000: LED signage

The infrastructure projects were chosen and assessed based on submissions from ACT public schools. All ACT public schools will be invited to submit infrastructure project proposals for the next round of the program in September.