Liberal pledge: Revamp for 69 outdated schools in $560 million spend – Perth Now

ALMOST 70 outdated WA high schools will be revamped in a $560 million spending spree bankrolled by the partial sale of Western Power if the Liberal Party retains power on March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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Mr Collier yesterday said it was always the intention to spell out the next generation fund during the campaign.

The balance of the $1 billion fund will flow to capital works in primary and district high schools and TAFE colleges.

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.

The remaining $3 billion would be used for a next- generation fund for education and training, transport and energy projects.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SCHOOL SPENDING SPREE

(School, earmarked funds, year built)

Albany Senior High School, $10m, 1924

Armadale Senior High School, $4m, 1953

Balga Senior High School, $8m, 1970

Belmont City College, $7m, 1957 (rebuilt in 1990s)

Bridgetown High School, $2m, 1962

Broome Senior High School, $20m, 1972

Bunbury Senior High School, $10m, 1923

Busselton Senior High School, $5m, 1952

Canning College, $5m, 1982

Carine Senior High School, $5m, 1973

Cecil Andrews Senior High School, $5m, 1980

Central Midlands Senior High School, $4m, 1971

Collie Senior High School, $8m, 1946

Como Secondary College, $20m, 1969

Cyril Jackson Senior Campus, $5m, 1962

Darling Range Sports Academy, $10.5m, 1975

Denmark Senior High School, $4m, 1896 (one block is pre-1980s, rest rebuilt in 2000)

Duncraig Senior High School, $5m, 1979

Eastern Hills Senior High School, $5m, 1962

Esperance Senior High School, $20m, 1966

Geraldton Senior College, $3m, 1939

Girrawheen Senior High School, $5m, 1974

Greenwood College, $10m, 1976

Hampton Senior High School, $12m, 1966

Headland Senior High School, $5m, 1971

John Curtin College of the Arts, $25m, 1946

John Forrest Secondary College, $15m, 1961

John Tonkin College (Middle School Campus), $5m, 1980

John Willcock College, $5m, 1975

Kalamunda Senior High School, $2m, 1962

Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School, $3m, 1972

Katanning Senior High School, $5m, 1950

Kelmscott Senior High School, $15m, 1973

Kent Street Senior High School, $20m, 1940

Kiara College, $4m, 1974

Leeming Senior High School, $10m, 1985

Lesmurdie Senior High School, $10m, 1981

Lynwood Senior High School, $12m, 1974

Manjimup Senior High School, $5m, 1953

Margaret River Senior High School, $34.4m, 1962

Melville Senior High School, $10m, 1960

Merredin College, $4m, 1950

Mirrabooka Senior High School, $8m, 1965

Morley Senior High School, $12m, 1970

Mount Barker Community College, $4m, 1960

Narrogin Senior High School, $5m, 1950

Newman Senior High School, $5m, 1974

Newton Moore Senior High School, $5m, 1966

North Albany Senior High School, $10m, 1982

North Lake Senior Campus, $5m, 1973

Northam Senior High School, $3m, 1921

Ocean Reef Senior High School, $8m, 1983

Perth Modern School, $5.5m, 1911

Pinjarra Senior High School, $15m, 1921

Rockingham Senior High School, $5m, 1971

Rossmoyne Senior High School, $4m, 1968

Safety Bay Senior High School, $15m, 1978

Sevenoaks Secondary College, $3m, 1965

South Fremantle Senior High School (Fremantle College), $3m, 1967

Southern River College, $12m, 1976

Swan View Senior High School, $3m, 1977

Thornlie Senior High School, $15m, 1971

Tom Price Senior High School, $5m, 1972

Tuart College, $5m, 1982

Wanneroo Secondary College, $5m, 1977

Warwick Senior High School, $4m, 1981

Willetton Senior High School, $3m, 1977

Woodvale Secondary College, $5m, 1985

Yule Brook College, $5m, 1978

TOTAL: 69 schools, $559.4 million