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Labor is
three years behind the time The redevelopment of Ceduna Area School could be the same as was planned and budgeted for more than three years ago under the Liberals. Member for Flinders Liz Penfold said $5.4 million was announced under “works in progress” in the recent state budget for Ceduna Area School for new R-5 teaching facilities, new school/community library resource centre and the removal of surplus DEMAC accommodation. “I am delighted that Ceduna Area School will have the additional facilities however the completion date of September 2006 is a reminder that all this could have been in place about three years ago,” she said. Mrs Penfold said that when work on the redevelopment was delayed by Labor, she asked for the interest on the $1 million of federal money being held in state coffers to be credited towards the total project funding but that request was denied. “It appears that the extra $400,000 agreed to by Minister Lomax-Smith could be the interest that the federal grant was earning. “But costs have risen in three years therefore Ceduna could still be disadvantaged from what it might have had,” she said. The original $5 million redevelopment was stopped by Labor, who then cut the project to $3.9 million. All amounts include the $1 million of federal funding Mrs Penfold said the project was one of a number mentioned in the government’s announcement of $66 million to improve regional schools. “The announcement is ambiguous at best since it gives the impression that this is all new money whereas almost two thirds has been committed previously,” she said.
CEDUNA AREA
SCHOOL REDEVELOPMENT AXED Member for Flinders Liz Penfold is incensed that the rebuilding and redevelopment of Ceduna Area School has been taken out of the education budget and the needs of Ceduna's children callously ignored especially as an undertaking had been made by Labor that projects already approved would be honoured. “The first stage of the rebuilding had been approved by the Liberal State Government and provision had been made in the 2001/2002 budget for the first $5 million,” “It's just another broken promise by this Labor Government." she said. “The Minister for Education and Children's Services, Trish White, said the new Government reviewed all existing capital work commitments to ensure funding reaches the schools in greatest need.” “It is no great surprise that all of these schools of ‘greatest need’ are I understand within commuting distance of Adelaide and only one in a Libera1 held electorate," Mrs Penfold said Ceduna Area School was estab1ished with demountable buildings as a temporary measure about 20 years ago. She said the school and the general community had spent a long time discussing plans and listening to ideas, so that the new school would grow with the community into the future. It is understood that the redevelopment had reached the stage of calling for tenders, A study by The Adelaide University Centre for Economic Studies found that the potential for growth in Ceduna was not only immediate with the development of Ceduna Keys and Coastal projects, but was long term due to the multiplier effects of the growth of tourism, aquaculture and service industries. “One of the first things that people coming to a town ask about is education. One look at the current Ceduna school buildings provides no incentive to stay. This makes it particularly hard to recruit people: needed in professional positions, used to city facilities," Mrs Penfold said. "The Labor Government has talked a lot about social justice, but its social justice is on a very short string, and obviously it doesn't extend to Ceduna," she said.
CEDUNA AREA SCHOOL BOOST The Ceduna community will benefit from $250,000 to plan a facilities improvement program at Ceduna Area School, with $5 million allocated to replace some facilities and redevelop and upgrade others. Member for Flinders Liz Penfold announced the capital works project as part of the 2001-2002 State Budget. “I am delighted that Ceduna Area School is now in the pipeline of capital works. “It is important that the wider community becomes involved in the consultation and planning process so the best solutions can be found,” she said. Mrs Penfold said the $250,000 will allow preliminary planning for the project for which $5 million has been allocated for a start in 2002. She said the program at Ceduna Area School is part of a $98 million capital works program in the State’s public primary and secondary schools, preschools and TAFE institutes. “To get the very best start in life, our young people need a high quality education and the quality of our environment and facilities is an important part of the provision of education,” she said. Education Minister Malcolm Buckby said work at Ceduna Area School is expected to begin in June next year, with completion of the improvement program expected by September 2003. “This Government is able to provide the best in education facilities for the community as part of its long-term plan to build a stronger economy. A stronger economy means a stronger community,” he said. “It is important that our school infrastructure is maintained and continually improved to ensure it meets the education needs of South Australian students.” Mr Buckby said the Government has also committed $36 million to minor works in schools, including the refurbishment and improvement of classrooms, as well as setting aside $3 million for the continuation of the Ecologically Sustainable Development grants program which encourages Schools to implement water and electricity saving measures. |
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