A second college for Gungahlin is at the centre of the biggest ever infrastructure investment in ACT public schools, the ACT Government has announced.
In next week’s Budget, the ACT Government will invest more than $800 million over the next four years on new and upgraded public schools.
“The ACT Government has an ambitious agenda of investment in infrastructure and our public schools are a crucial part of this,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said. “This announcement represents the biggest package of public education infrastructure investments in the history of self-government.”
This investment includes funding to build a second college in the Gungahlin area, in Nicholls.
The new college, planned to open before the end of the decade, will have an initial capacity of 800 students, with room to expand to 1,100 students.
It will feature state-of-the-art learning environments, and have facilities for community use.
“The second college for Gungahlin will meet the need to increase college places in Canberra’s north to match projected enrolment growth,” education minister Yvette Berry said.
“The new college in Gungahlin is being eagerly awaited by people in our city’s north, and I’m pleased we are moving ahead with what will be Canberra’s 10th public college.”
Also in the Budget, the government will modernise Telopea Park High School, to increase the school’s permanent capacity by 500 places and cater to enrolment growth in the Inner South.
The government will upgrade roofing at Latham Primary, Gowrie Primary, Red Hill Primary, and Telopea Park School, and infrastructure at Cranleigh School and Black Mountain School.
The government will fund feasibility, planning, and design work for a new college in the Molonglo Valley, and to modernise Fraser Primary School, North Ainslie Primary School, and Forrest Primary School.
The projects are in addition to the funding for infrastructure works already underway across ACT public schools, including the annual Public School Infrastructure Renewal Program projects announced last week.
- $22 million for Canberra public schools (13 June)
A new high school will open in East Gungahlin next year, and a new high school in North Gungahlin in 2025.
Ms Berry said this Budget provides additional funding to meet cost pressures affecting construction projects underway at Garran Primary School, the new primary school in Strathnairn, and the new high school in North Gungahlin.
“As our city continues to grow, significant and sustained investment in new and upgraded education infrastructure is a priority for the ACT Government,” Ms Berry said.
“Our youngest Canberrans deserve the very best education facilities, this budget delivers that.
“School communities all across Canberra will benefit from these announcements. As we celebrate 50 years of ACT public schools, we are continuing to build new schools and upgrade our existing ones to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
“These projects will not only enhance the quality of our public school system across the city, they will also create jobs and economic activity for years to come,” Mr Barr said.
