The Western Australian government will invest $12 million in new facilities for Highgate Primary School.
Education Minister Tony Buti announced that the creative enhancements will include six general learning classrooms for 160 students, a multi-purpose teaching area, teacher amenities, and new bathrooms for students and staff.
The modular building will be constructed in parts offsite, reducing on-site construction time and associated disruption to the school. It will be connected to the school’s two-storey building to enable access via lift and stairway.
Consultation with the school on the new classrooms’ specific design and layout will begin immediately before a tender is released.
Existing green spaces at the school will be improved and some existing toilets will be upgraded as part of the project.
A shared-use agreement with the City of Vincent will also enable students to use the nearby Birdwood Square for play, exclusively during school hours.
The Department of Education is negotiating with the City of Vincent to lease car bays to convert some school car parking into additional green space.
Transportables will be relocated to facilitate the installation of the state-of-the-art modular structure while minimising the impact on the school’s existing green space.
The Departments of Education and Planning, Lands and Heritage are working closely with the City of Vincent to repurpose the northern part of Grant Street, Highgate to increase the school area and assist with the modular build.
Planning for the new Inner City Primary School proposed for East Perth is progressing, providing long-term enrolment relief for Highgate Primary School.
The state government is waiting for the City of Perth to progress a Major Land Transaction Plan so planning can progress and construction can start as soon as possible.
WA Minister for Planning John Carey stated that the local community advocated strongly for enhanced education facilities as more families now choose to live within the inner-city area.
“As our city evolves, the state government has made significant investments in schools across the inner-city including Bob Hawke College and Mount Lawley Senior High School.
“The East Perth Primary School will be the single biggest investment in a public primary school in our state’s history, and while we work through the business case, we continue to implement measures to support Highgate Primary School.”