1/8/05
Construction of the $7.5million middle school at Esperance Senior High School is set to begin, following the appointment of local builder, the Sime Building Company.
Visiting the school this afternoon, Premier Geoff Gallop, Education and Training Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich, and Housing and Works Minister Francis Logan turned the sod to mark the beginning of the construction phase.
Dr Gallop said the redevelopment would include 16 new general classrooms, four group activity areas, two specialty science areas, staff study rooms, storage space and bathroom facilities.
Six new hard courts for tennis, netball, basketball, as well as cricket nets, would also be included in the multi-million dollar redevelopment.
“Redeveloping the school to create a state-of-the-art middle school will provide enormous benefits for students and the broader Esperance community,” the Premier said.
“The middle school will address the specific needs of young adolescent students, while the senior school will offer a more mature learning environment for the older students.
“Of course, the community will have after-hours access to the new sporting facilities.”
Mr Logan said he was pleased the contract had been awarded to a locally based builder.
“Work is expected to begin this week,” he said.
“When the project is completed in mid-2006, Esperance Senior High School will have undergone a transformation which will make it almost unrecognisable from its original form.”
Ms Ravlich said the redevelopment would complement the recent $3.75 million refurbishment of the senior high school buildings.
“Completed earlier this year, the upgrade included new specialty facilities for design and technology, visual arts and hospitality,” she said.
“It has also enabled the senior campus to develop closer links with Curtin University and provide more training opportunities for students.”
The Minister said the redevelopment - totalling more than $11.2million - was in addition to $490,000 the school had been allocated under the State Government’s $65million ‘Fixing Our Schools’ maintenance initiative. The maintenance work was expected to be complete by July, 2007.
Ms Ravlich used the visit to thank the school community, including staff and parents, for their involvement in the redevelopment program.
"I understand the community has been involved in all aspects of the redevelopment and that the P&C association especially has been extensively involved and supportive of the middle school,” she said.
Premier’s office: 9222 9475
Housing and Works Minister’s office: 9222 8950
Education and Training Minister’s office: 9213 6800
