ALMOST 70 outdated WA high schools will be revamped in a $560 million spending spree bankrolled by the partial sale of Western Power if the Liberal Party retains power on March 11. <\/p>\n
The Sunday Times can today reveal the 69 secondary schools, which were built before 1985, to benefit from its flagged $1 billion next generation education fund and how much each can expect to reap. <\/p>\n
The plan would see major upgrades of classrooms and building of new specialist facilities for science, design and technology, sport, media, performing and visual arts and home economics, with each school estimated to receive between $2 million and $34 million. <\/p>\n
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The partial sale of Western Power will allow us to bring older high schools up to 21st century standards across the board. It will also stimulate the economy by creating 18,480 jobs, Premier Colin Barnett said. <\/p>\n
Education Minister Peter Collier denied the funds were being used to pork-barrel marginal seats, saying there were just as many safe and marginal Labor seats included in the list as Liberal seats. <\/p>\n
This is not based on a political premise; this is based on an extremely forensic and well- audited appraisal by the Department of Education of whats required in those schools, he said. Schools would be salivating at the prospect of these improvements to their facilities. It would take a very brave person to prosecute an argument that whats been identified for any of those schools is not required. <\/p>\n
Of the 11 high schools earmarked to receive $15 million or more, only three are in seats held by a margin of 10 per cent or less two by Labor (Kimberley and Thornlie) and one by the Liberals (Morley). <\/p>\n
Regardless of the colour of government after March 11, any incoming government is going to be faced with significant challenges to bring these schools up to standard, Mr Collier said. He added this major spend on the school project backlog would not be possible without the unique opportunity presented by the part sale of Western Power. In a stark choice for voters, Labor is campaigning against selling off the utility. <\/p>\n
The list has been around for a long time ... and the whole point of this exercise is that at last we can do it en masse. If not, I want to make it quite clear, these schools will not get these improvements for up to 20 years, Mr Collier said. This funding is above and beyond everything that has been committed thus far. <\/p>\n
In December, the Premier said the Liberals would not be using the Western Power funds to bankroll election promises and would not allocate that money to specific schools during the campaign. <\/p>\n
Mr Collier yesterday said it was always the intention to spell out the next generation fund during the campaign. <\/p>\n
The balance of the $1 billion fund will flow to capital works in primary and district high schools and TAFE colleges. <\/p>\n
Late last year, the Barnett Government vowed if re-elected it would sell 51 per cent of Western Power for a forecast $11 billion, $8 billion of which would be used to clear the utilitys debt. <\/p>\n
The remaining $3 billion would be used for a next- generation fund for education and training, transport and energy projects. <\/p>\n
Mr Collier said he would have more to say later in the campaign on how the remaining $1 billion for education and training would be used. <\/p>\n
Education-centric policies have been high on the campaign agenda for both major parties, with the Liberals already promising revamps of Balcatta, Mt Lawley, Kalamunda and Harvey senior high schools as well as South Bunbury Primary School using consolidated revenue. <\/p>\n
Labors education blueprint includes Perths first high-rise public school in the CBD. That would see Perth Modern, WAs only academically selective school, relocated to the new city college and the Subiaco site turned into a local intake school for 1500 students to ease pressure on other inner-city high schools. <\/p>\n
Mr Collier said he would walk over hot coals if the (Perth Modern) community almost unanimously didnt agree with him Labors plan was ridiculous, misguided and fundamentally flawed. <\/p>\n
SCHOOL SPENDING SPREE <\/p>\n
(School, earmarked funds, year built) <\/p>\n
Albany Senior High School, $10m, 1924 <\/p>\n
Armadale Senior High School, $4m, 1953 <\/p>\n
Balga Senior High School, $8m, 1970 <\/p>\n
Belmont City College, $7m, 1957 (rebuilt in 1990s) <\/p>\n
Bridgetown High School, $2m, 1962 <\/p>\n
Broome Senior High School, $20m, 1972 <\/p>\n
Bunbury Senior High School, $10m, 1923 <\/p>\n
Busselton Senior High School, $5m, 1952 <\/p>\n
Canning College, $5m, 1982 <\/p>\n
Carine Senior High School, $5m, 1973 <\/p>\n
Cecil Andrews Senior High School, $5m, 1980 <\/p>\n
Central Midlands Senior High School, $4m, 1971 <\/p>\n
Collie Senior High School, $8m, 1946 <\/p>\n
Como Secondary College, $20m, 1969 <\/p>\n
Cyril Jackson Senior Campus, $5m, 1962 <\/p>\n
Darling Range Sports Academy, $10.5m, 1975 <\/p>\n
Denmark Senior High School, $4m, 1896 (one block is pre-1980s, rest rebuilt in 2000) <\/p>\n
Duncraig Senior High School, $5m, 1979 <\/p>\n
Eastern Hills Senior High School, $5m, 1962 <\/p>\n
Esperance Senior High School, $20m, 1966 <\/p>\n
Geraldton Senior College, $3m, 1939 <\/p>\n
Girrawheen Senior High School, $5m, 1974 <\/p>\n
Greenwood College, $10m, 1976 <\/p>\n
Hampton Senior High School, $12m, 1966 <\/p>\n
Headland Senior High School, $5m, 1971 <\/p>\n
John Curtin College of the Arts, $25m, 1946 <\/p>\n
John Forrest Secondary College, $15m, 1961 <\/p>\n
John Tonkin College (Middle School Campus), $5m, 1980 <\/p>\n
John Willcock College, $5m, 1975 <\/p>\n
Kalamunda Senior High School, $2m, 1962 <\/p>\n
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School, $3m, 1972 <\/p>\n
Katanning Senior High School, $5m, 1950 <\/p>\n
Kelmscott Senior High School, $15m, 1973 <\/p>\n
Kent Street Senior High School, $20m, 1940 <\/p>\n
Kiara College, $4m, 1974 <\/p>\n
Leeming Senior High School, $10m, 1985 <\/p>\n
Lesmurdie Senior High School, $10m, 1981 <\/p>\n
Lynwood Senior High School, $12m, 1974 <\/p>\n
Manjimup Senior High School, $5m, 1953 <\/p>\n
Margaret River Senior High School, $34.4m, 1962 <\/p>\n
Melville Senior High School, $10m, 1960 <\/p>\n
Merredin College, $4m, 1950 <\/p>\n
Mirrabooka Senior High School, $8m, 1965 <\/p>\n
Morley Senior High School, $12m, 1970 <\/p>\n
Mount Barker Community College, $4m, 1960 <\/p>\n
Narrogin Senior High School, $5m, 1950 <\/p>\n
Newman Senior High School, $5m, 1974 <\/p>\n
Newton Moore Senior High School, $5m, 1966 <\/p>\n
North Albany Senior High School, $10m, 1982 <\/p>\n
North Lake Senior Campus, $5m, 1973 <\/p>\n
Northam Senior High School, $3m, 1921 <\/p>\n
Ocean Reef Senior High School, $8m, 1983 <\/p>\n
Perth Modern School, $5.5m, 1911 <\/p>\n
Pinjarra Senior High School, $15m, 1921 <\/p>\n
Rockingham Senior High School, $5m, 1971 <\/p>\n
Rossmoyne Senior High School, $4m, 1968 <\/p>\n
Safety Bay Senior High School, $15m, 1978 <\/p>\n
Sevenoaks Secondary College, $3m, 1965 <\/p>\n
South Fremantle Senior High School (Fremantle College), $3m, 1967 <\/p>\n
Southern River College, $12m, 1976 <\/p>\n
Swan View Senior High School, $3m, 1977 <\/p>\n
Thornlie Senior High School, $15m, 1971 <\/p>\n
Tom Price Senior High School, $5m, 1972 <\/p>\n
Tuart College, $5m, 1982 <\/p>\n
Wanneroo Secondary College, $5m, 1977 <\/p>\n
Warwick Senior High School, $4m, 1981 <\/p>\n
Willetton Senior High School, $3m, 1977 <\/p>\n
Woodvale Secondary College, $5m, 1985 <\/p>\n
Yule Brook College, $5m, 1978 <\/p>\n
TOTAL: 69 schools, $559.4 million <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Read more here:<\/p>\n
Liberal pledge: Revamp for 69 outdated schools in $560 million spend - Perth Now<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ALMOST 70 outdated WA high schools will be revamped in a $560 million spending spree bankrolled by the partial sale of Western Power if the Liberal Party retains power on March 11. The Sunday Times can today reveal the 69 secondary schools, which were built before 1985, to benefit from its flagged $1 billion next generation education fund and how much each can expect to reap. The plan would see major upgrades of classrooms and building of new specialist facilities for science, design and technology, sport, media, performing and visual arts and home economics, with each school estimated to receive between $2 million and $34 million. Continue reading