Premier Colin Barnett has announced Pinjarra Senior High School and John Tonkin College’s middle school campus would be upgraded and refurbished if he wins the upcoming state election, but only after his plan to sell half of Western Power is successful.
Mr Barnett said on Sunday a re-elected Liberal government would spend $560 million of the utility’s sale price on building new school facilities for science, design and technology, sport, media, performing and visual arts, and home economics.
He named 69 high schools that would be upgraded under the plan, which were selected after an audit of pre-1985 schools by the education department.
Pinjarra SHS, which was built in 1921, would receive $15 million and John Tonkin College’s middle school would receive $5 million.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Mr Barnett said.
“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.”
In January, opposition leader Mark McGowan released Labor’s plans for school upgrades, which included a pledge to build $381 million in new school infrastructure.
He said the plan would “boost the local economy, creating 1350 new jobs by building new schools and upgrading existing schools”.
“This is part of our overall plan to improve education infrastructure across Western Australia,” he said.
Mandurah MP David Templeman said Labor’s plan would include $2.5 million for a joint sporting facility to be based at the new Lakelands High School campus.
Earlier in the campaign, education minister Peter Collier announced the Liberals would spend $15.5 million building a new North Meadow Springs Primary School to cater for 430 students.
Nathan Hondros
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
Senior Journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, and Fairfax Media.
