C14 Capital works

Overview

• In 2012-13, the Directorate delivered a large capital works program, totalling $90.2 million, following on from the $92.3 million program in 2011-12 and $187.5 million program delivered in 2010-11.
• Highlights for the year were the opening of the Neville Bonner Primary School and Franklin Early Childhood School.
• All major projects were either completed or are on target to be delivered by the scheduled completion date.

New schools

Franklin Early Childhood School

The new Franklin Early Childhood School opened on 4 February 2013 ready for the start of 2013 school year. The childcare service was able to commence on 14 January 2013. The school provides facilities for children from birth to eight years of age, and will accommodate 120 childcare places and cater for 300 preschool to year 2 students.

The Franklin Early Childhood School is the first purpose built early childhood school in the ACT and follows the successful operation of early childhood schools in the suburbs of Isabella Plains, Lyons, Narrabundah, O'Connor and Scullin (Southern Cross).

The construction manager, Joss Constructions, commenced work on 23 January 2012 and delivered the stage 1 facilities (childcare and preschool) by the start of the 2013 school year. The stage 2 facilities, which comprise the kindergarten to year 2 teaching and learning spaces, school administration, library and canteen buildings and community hall were delivered in March 2013 ready for the start of term 2.

The total budget for the Franklin Early Childhood School was $44.1 million, including $1.4 million for forward design and $42.7 million for construction works. The budget included works to separate the land site into the school block, community use blocks and community open space, together with the service road and carparking. Project construction savings of $14.0 million were returned to the ACT Government.

Neville Bonner Primary School

The new Neville Bonner Primary School also opened on 4 February 2013 ready for the start of the 2013 school year. The school provides facilities for students from preschool to year 6, and will support residents in the north Gungahlin suburbs of Forde and Bonner.

The construction manager, St Hilliers Group, commenced construction on 30January 2012 and delivered the stage 1 facilities (preschool and kindergarten to year 2 teaching and learning spaces, together with the school administration building) by the start of the 2013 school year. The stage 2 facilities, which comprise the library, canteen, years 3 to 6 teaching and learning spaces and multi-purpose hall, were delivered in May 2013 with the environment centre delivered early in the 2013-14 reporting period.

A significant element in the school design is the inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples artworks into the school landscape and school buildings. These works will be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period. The school was designed to achieve the 5 Green Star design-rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

The total budget for the Bonner Primary School was $64.4 million, including $1.8 million for forward design, $2.33 million for land remediation works and
$60.27 million for construction works. Project construction savings of $14.0 million were returned to the ACT Government.

Coombs Primary School

The preparation of designs for the new Coombs Primary School in the district of Molonglo was completed to the Final Sketch Plan stage in the 2011-12 reporting period. Redesign work for a smaller school to reflect revised demographic projections was commenced in the 2012-13 reporting period.

The 2013-14 Budget provided an additional $0.55 million for the completion of the design in 2013-14. This school will be the first public school in the Molonglo district.

Trade Training Centre – Tuggeranong Network

The Australian Government approved a grant in December 2011 to establish the Tuggeranong Sustainable Living Trade Training Centre. This project involves works at four high schools (Calwell and Lanyon High Schools and Caroline Chisholm and Wanniassa Schools) and two colleges (Erindale and Lake Tuggeranong) across the Tuggeranong School Network.

Tender ready design documentation was completed during the reporting period with construction managers (builders) appointed to construct the hospitality services extension and cafe at Erindale College and the construction services workshop at Lake Tuggeranong College. Work on these projects commenced in July 2013 and are programmed to be completed during the 2013-14 reporting period. A project manager was also appointed in June 2013 to manage the refurbishment works at Lake Tuggeranong College and the four high schools.

Gungahlin College

The Gungahlin College was constructed in the Gungahlin Town Centre and opened to year 11 students from the start of the 2011 school year.

The Gungahlin College was the winner of the 2012 Council of Educational and Facilities Planners International (Australasia) in the new construction and overall projects categories. During the current reporting period, the college received certification from the Green Building Council of Australia as a 5 Green Star design school.

During the reporting period, the Directorate continued to manage the building defects and additional post-occupancy works to ensure that the building facilities meet the college's educational service needs.

The total budget for the Gungahlin College was $75.4 million, including $1.0 million for forward design. This budget included design and construction work for the new secondary college, the CIT learning centre, the joint college/community library and town park.

Namadgi School – Kambah

The new Namadgi School was constructed on the site of the former Kambah High School and opened to preschool to year 7 students from the start of the 2011 school year. The school will cater for preschool to year 10 students from the 2014 school year.

During the reporting period, the Directorate continued to manage the building defects and additional post-occupancy works to ensure that the building facilities meet the school's educational service needs.

The total budget for Namadgi School was $58.1 million, including initial funding of $54 million, $2.5 million allocated through the More Teachers, Lower Class Sizes program and $1.55 million in supplementary funding.

Harrison School

The secondary section of Harrison School opened on 3 February 2012 ready for the start of the 2012 school year, catering for students in years 6 to 8. The school will cater up to year 10 from the start of the 2014 school year.

During the reporting period, the Directorate managed the building defects and undertook additional post-occupancy works to ensure that the building facilities meet the school's educational service needs.

The total budget for the secondary section of Harrison School was $51.65 million, including initial funding of $45.0 million for design and construction, $2.0 million for a larger gymnasium and $4.65 million in supplementary funding.

School improvements

Canberra College Performing Arts Centre

Construction of the new Performing Arts Centre at the Woden campus of the Canberra College was completed in August 2012 ready for the start of term 4 in the 2012 school year.

This centre follows the new performing arts theatre at Gungahlin College and new performing arts centres at Lyneham and Calwell High Schools. It is the largest performing arts centre to be constructed at an ACT public school.

Canberra College Cares (CCCares) program

Designs for the new Canberra College Cares (CCCares) facility to be constructed on the Woden campus of Canberra College were completed to the Final Sketch Plan stage during the reporting period. Final design documentation to tender ready stage will be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period.

The new facility will enable students and their children attending the CCCares program to transfer from the college's Weston campus and to be integrated into the college's Woden campus. The new facility will provide teaching and learning spaces for students as well as childcare and health facilities for their children.

This project is scheduled to be completed ready for the start of the 2015 school year.

Childcare centres

Early childhood and childcare centres transferred to the Education and Training Directorate from the Community Services Directorate following the
16 November 2012 Administrative Arrangements Orders.

Since the transfer, construction and refurbishment works have been completed at four centres – Black Mountain, Cooinda, Greenway and Campbell Cottage. Construction work was also commenced at the Narrabundah Children's Cottage and a construction manager (builder) appointed to undertake works at the Nimbin Childcare Centre. Tender ready designs were also completed for the Forrest and Fyshwick Early Childhood Centres during the reporting period.

Tender ready designs were completed during the reporting period and a construction manager (builder) was appointed in June 2013 to construct the new Holder Early Childhood Centre. Site early earthworks were also completed during the reporting period ready for the commencement of construction work. The new centre is programmed to be completed in 2014. This will be the first purpose-built early childhood centre in the ACT under the National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care.

A consultant was appointed in May 2013 to undertake the feasibility study to review the Civic Early Childhood Centre. The review report will be delivered during the 2013-14 reporting period.

Duffy Primary School extension

Planning and consultation works with the school and the school community were undertaken during the reporting period. A design consultant (architect) was engaged in September 2012 to prepare designs for a relocatable classroom building. Full design documentation was completed during the reporting period.

A construction manager (builder) was appointed in June 2013 to arrange the off-site manufacture and on-site assembly of the new classrooms. Works are programmed to be completed by the end of 2013.

This project will extend Duffy Primary School to a full three-stream school (i.e. three classes in each year group from kindergarten to year 6).

Malkara School hydrotherapy pool

Construction of the new hydrotherapy pool at Malkara School was completed in February 2013, ready for the start of 2013 school year. Works included the construction of a new 14 metre hydrotherapy pool, change rooms and toilet facilities for students. The new facilities are also available for community use outside of school hours.

Majura Primary School extension

Construction work to extend Majura Primary School commenced in November 2012. Stages 1 and 2 refurbishment works to the kindergarten and year 1 classrooms were completed during the reporting period, with final works now programmed to be completed by the end of 2013.

This project will extend Majura Primary School to a full four-stream school (i.e. four classes in each year group from kindergarten to year 6).

Macgregor Primary School extension

Construction work to extend Macgregor Primary School also commenced in November 2012. Stages 1 and 2 refurbishment works to the kindergarten, year 1 classrooms and staff room were completed during the reporting period, with final works now programmed to be completed by October 2013. Construction of the new year 5 and 6 wing commenced in April 2013 and is also programmed to be completed by the end of 2013.

This project will also extend Macgregor Primary School to a full four-stream school (i.e. four classes in each year group from kindergarten to year 6).

Preschool expansions

This project expands existing preschools to meet requirements under the National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care. Construction and refurbishment works were completed at seven preschool sites during the reporting period – Ainslie (Baker Gardens), Downer, Griffith (Bannister Gardens), Hackett, Lyneham, Red Hill and Reid Preschools.

The Watson Preschool extension works were completed during the reporting period with refurbishment works now scheduled to be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period. The Deakin Preschool project involves a 'knock down/rebuild' with demolition work completed in March 2013. Construction of the new preschool buildings commenced in April 2013 and is programmed to be completed by the end of 2013.

Red Hill Primary School extension

Construction and civil works to extend Red Hill Primary School were completed in September 2012. Works included the refurbishment of the junior wing, a new classroom wing (with six classrooms and two shared learning spaces), a new school carpark and landscape works.

Works to separate the French Australia Preschool (FAPS) facilities were completed during the 2010-11 reporting period. The FAPS site was transferred to the Economic Development Directorate during the reporting period, in preparation for sale to the FAPS Association.

Taylor Primary School rectification

Rectification works were commenced in the reporting period with the asbestos removal works completed in March 2013 and the new external wall frames and cladding completed in June 2013. Roofing replacement and internal refurbishment works are programmed to be completed by the end of 2013, ready for the start of the 2014 school year. A 65 place childcare centre is also being integrated into the school site.

Tuggeranong Introductory English Centre

Preliminary work was undertaken in the reporting period to transfer the Tuggeranong Introductory English Centre to the Wanniassa Hills Primary School site for the commencement of the 2013 school year.

Artificial grass surfaces

Construction work to install artificial playing surfaces was completed at five schools during the reporting period – Calwell Primary School (sportsfield), Telopea Park School (sportsfield), Theodore Primary School (play space), Torrens Primary School (play space) and Weetangera Primary School (sportsfield).

Landscape improvements

Works were completed at Giralang and Aranda Primary Schools with further landscape improvement projects completed at three schools during the current reporting period – Gowrie Primary School, Red Hill Primary School and Stromlo High School.

Designs for high school frontage improvements were completed at three schools during the reporting period: Calwell High School, Lyneham High School and Telopea Park School. Construction works were commenced at Calwell High School and will be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period. The Lyneham High School and Telopea Park School projects will also be completed in the 2013-14 reporting period.

Work to reinstate the natural grass sportsfield at Farrer Primary School was commenced in the reporting period and will be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period.

Environment – solar schools

Photovoltaic (solar panel) systems were installed at 19 ACT public schools during the 2011-12 reporting period. This is in addition to existing solar panel systems installed at new schools (Namadgi School and Gungahlin College), trial sites (Kingsford Smith School and Evatt Primary School) and projects connected with the Building the Education Revolution initiative (Gold Creek School, Gordon Primary School and Theodore Primary School).

Solar panel systems were installed at a further 55 schools during the reporting period, including Harrison School and Franklin Early Childhood School. Installations at the final six schools are programmed to be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period.

In addition to the installation of solar panel systems, pulse (smart) meters are being installed at schools with 33 installations completed in the reporting period. The meters will record and digitally display – for business management and curriculum learning – electricity, gas and water consumption and solar power generation information.

Carbon neutral schools

Scoping work and investigations for lighting upgrades and insulation was progressed during the reporting period for 10 schools. Carbon audits were also conducted for Canberra High School and Theodore Primary School which have been identified as the full carbon neutral trial schools.

Security fences

Installation works were completed at Ngunnawal Primary School in the reporting period. Designs for further security fences at Red Hill Primary School, Mt Rogers Primary School, Macgregor Primary School, Maribyrnong Primary School and Wanniassa School (senior campus) were also completed in the reporting period.

Car parks and traffic improvements

Construction works under this program were completed at Fraser Primary School in the reporting period. Construction works at Weetangera Primary School and Southern Cross Early Childhood School were commenced in the reporting period and will be completed in the 2013-14 reporting period. Designs were completed in the reporting period for further carpark upgrades at Curtin Primary School and South Curtin Preschool.

School toilet upgrade program

Upgrade works were completed at three schools during the 2011-12 reporting period with works completed at a further 14 schools during the current reporting period. Upgrade works at Forrest Primary School will be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period.

School roof replacement program

Roof replacement works were completed at Curtin Primary School, Southern Cross Early Childhood School and Wanniassa School (senior campus) in the reporting period. Works at Chapman Primary School will be completed early in the 2013-14 reporting period.

Digital front sign

A trial digital front sign was installed at The Woden School and Franklin Early Childhood School in the reporting period. Further trial signs will be installed at Canberra, Dickson and Narrabundah Colleges, Stromlo High School and Namadgi School in the 2013-14 reporting period.

Older schools upgrade program

Major upgrade works were completed at Melba Copland Secondary School (Melba campus) in the reporting period. Major upgrade works at Hughes and Yarralumla Primary Schools were commenced during the reporting period and will be completed in the 2013-14 reporting period.

Capital works schedules

The Directorate's capital works management program for 2012-13, detailing the completed projects and works still in progress at the year end is shown in Table C14.1.

Table C14.1: Capital works management 2012-13