The Directorate’s asset management strategy is based on the following key principles:
- asset management activities are undertaken within an integrated and coordinated framework;
- asset management practices and decisions are guided by service delivery needs;
- asset planning and management are integrated with corporate and business plans, as well as budgetary and reporting processes; and
- capital expenditure decisions are based on evaluations of alternatives that take into account estimated costs, benefits and risks, in particular workplace, health and safety risks.
In 2014 - 15, the Directorate progressed the following tasks in relation to the asset management strategy:
- planning for the Strategic Asset Management Plan;
- the development of regional education and training studies;
- the development of principles that will guide future planning of public schools;
- a template for school master plans; and
- a process for post occupancy evaluations of new and refurbished assets.
The Directorate is responsible for 90 school sites and 28 offsite preschools. In addition, the Directorate manages three facilities for central office staff. In total, there are 121 sites under direct management by the Directorate.
The Directorate has an ongoing program to provide high quality learning environments for students through facility upgrades and expansions. To ensure Directorate facilities are maintained at a standard suitable for delivering sustainable quality educational and care programs, the Directorate has a maintenance program for urgent and minor repairs, planned maintenance and the repair of vandalised and damaged facilities. The Directorate also has an ongoing capital works program for the upgrade of schools and preschools.
Issues managed by the Directorate included:
- ageing asset stock;
- provision of new schools and educational facilities to meet demographic change;
- utilisation of existing facilities;
- refurbishment to support changing curriculum activities and service delivery needs;
- installation of information and communication technology infrastructure;
- building compliance upgrades to improve accessibility and learning environments for students with special needs;
- school safety improvements including car parking and traffic management;
- installation of security related infrastructure;
- hazardous materials management, removal and disposal;
- environmental efficiency and sustainable landscapes; and
- energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions.
Assets Managed
As at 30 June 2015, the Directorate managed school infrastructure assets with a total net book value of $1,793.0 million (Table C4.1).
| Asset class | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
| Land and building (including improvements) for schools and preschools | 1,756.4 |
| Leasehold improvements | 1.1 |
| Property, plant and equipment | 32.9 |
| Intangible assets | 2.6 |
| Total | 1,793.0 |
Source: Education and Training Directorate
Note: The significant assets added to the Directorate’s asset register during 2014-15 are given in Table C4.2.
| Assets | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
Capital works (schools):
| 22 |
| Capital works - various schools, preschools and childcare centre sites | 19.2 |
| Capital initiatives - various ICT and other projects | 17.4 |
| Total | 58.6 |
Source: Education and Training Directorate
Asset Transfers
During the reporting period, 30 childcare centres were transferred to ACT Property Group in the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. There were no other assets transferred in the 2014-15 year.
Surplus Assets
As at 30 June 2015, the Directorate did not have any properties which were not being utilised by the agency or that had been identified as potentially surplus.
Assets Maintenance and Upgrade
The Directorate undertakes maintenance and upgrades in consultation with schools and their communities. The Directorate prepared annual repairs and maintenance plans for each school on the basis of information from building condition assessments, requests from schools and information gained from other sources such as consultant reports and site visits.
Works were subsequently undertaken at a local level by schools and through the Directorate’s Infrastructure and Capital Works Branch, with larger and more significant works included in the Directorate’s capital works program in priority order.
Maintenance and major refurbishment are a priority for the Directorate given the increasing average age of school facilities.
Asset Maintenance
In 2014 - 15, the Directorate spent $18.8 million on school repairs and maintenance. The repairs and maintenance program included:
- a program of works for all primary and secondary schools, based on the annual rolling program;
- an allocation for unforeseen maintenance such as vandalism, fire and flood damage;
- high priority works arising from school building condition assessment reports; and
- a schedule of maintenance for preschools.
Building condition assessments of all schools (including preschools) and childcare facilities are conducted on a three-year rolling program and cover buildings, services and grounds. During 2014-15, building condition assessments were conducted at 40 schools. The results of these reports are taken into account in preparing the Directorate’s annual repairs and maintenance programs.
In line with the Dangerous Substances Act 2004, the Directorate completed the program of inspections to prepare Hazardous Materials Survey Management Plans (HMSMP) for each school (including preschool). These plans are comprehensive and include all potentially hazardous materials (asbestos containing materials, lead-based paint, synthetic mineral fibres, polychlorinated biphenyls and ozone depleting substances). The Directorate updates the asbestos register and asbestos management plan for each school once in every 5 years.
Copies of the HMSMP and the Asbestos Register are accessible at each school and preschool site for inspection by staff, parents, carers and tradespeople. Plans showing areas of known asbestos containing materials are mounted in entry areas of all schools and preschools.
Tree assessment audits are conducted at each school on an annual basis. The 2014-15 year was the fifth year of annual audits with 87 audits conducted. The outcomes are included in the Directorate’s tree maintenance program.
During the reporting period, all ACT public schools updated their Emergency Management Plans that include preparation and response to bushfire threats. The Directorate also conducted its annual bushfire prevention audit. These audits were conducted across all ACT public schools to ensure mandatory preventative maintenance was completed prior to the peak bushfire season.
In addition to the planned school asset maintenance and upgrade programs managed and delivered by central office, schools are also funded to undertake repairs and minor works tasks.
Asset Upgrades
In the 2014-15 Budget, funding of $13.868 million was provided for capital upgrades at schools and preschools. Details of specific works are included in Section C3.
Office Accommodation
During the 2014-15 year, central office staff were located at 220 Northbourne Avenue in Braddon, the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning in Stirling, Maribyrnong Primary School in Kaleen and the Lyons Education Centre (Table C4.3).
Staff census of schools conducted in February 2015 recorded 3,192 full-time equivalent staff employed in non-office environments at ACT public school sites. Staff located at these sites included teachers, school leaders, office administrators, general service officers and building service officers.
| Building and location | Staff numbers | Approximate area occupied (m2) | Average area occupied per employee (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 220 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon | 212 | 3,303a | 15.6 |
| Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stirling | 233 | 3,196 | 13.7 |
| Maribyrnong Primary School, Kaleen | 22 | 727a,b | 33.0 |
| Lyons Education Centre | 11c | 713 | 64.8 |
| Total | 482d | 7,939 | 16.5 |
Source: Education and Training Directorate
Notes:
a. Includes meeting rooms.
b. Space occupied by Student Services (Vision Support Team and Hearing Support Team).
c. Space occupied by the Board of Senior Secondary Studies (Lyons Education Centre) includes 202 m2 for meeting rooms and secure storage.
d.Staff numbers have been calculated based on occupied workstations at 30 June 2015.
For further information contact:
Director
Infrastructure and Capital Works
(02) 6205 3173