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 linked to 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 2016-17, the Directorate progressed the following activities in relation to the asset management strategy:
- finalised the first set of the Sustainable Development of Public School Facilities specifications for preschool to year 6 schools. The specifications define the infrastructure requirements which will meet modern pedagogy. The specifications are used for new schools and major upgrades of existing schools.
- commenced using the Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) asset database in the definition of the 2017-18 capital upgrades program. By using the asset age and condition information in the database, the development of the program of work has a stronger evidence base. Enhancement of the database is an ongoing asset management activity; and
- undertook a Post Occupancy Evaluation for the Neville Bonner Primary School.
The Directorate is responsible for 91 school sites and 28 offsite preschools. In addition, the Directorate manages two major facilities for Education Support Office staff. In total, there are 122 sites under direct management by the Directorate.
The Directorate has ongoing infrastructure programs which provide sustainable, high quality learning and teaching environments for students. These programs provide facility upgrades, expansions, repairs and maintenance. The capital works program focuses on renewal and upgrade of schools and preschools and the maintenance program handles urgent and minor repairs, planned maintenance and the repair of damaged facilities.
Asset management issues which were a priority for the Directorate in 2016-17 included:
- renewal of ageing infrastructure;
- provision of new schools and educational facilities to meet growth-related demand;
- refurbishment to support changing curriculum activities, including improvements to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths learning environments;
- modification of facilities to support students with complex needs and challenging behaviours;
- 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; and
- infrastructure works to achieve energy efficiency and reduction in carbon emissions.
Assets Managed
As at 30 June 2017, the Directorate managed school infrastructure assets with a total net book value of $1,907.6 million (Table C4.1).
Table C4.1: Assets and their values at 30 June 2017
| Asset Class | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
| Land and Buildings (including improvements) for schools and preschools | 1,875.7 |
| Leasehold Improvements | - |
| Property, Plant and Equipment | 30.6 |
| Intangible Assets | 1.3 |
| Total | 1,907.6 |
Source: Education Directorate
Assets to the value of $22.4 million were added to the register in 2016-17 (Table C4.2).
Table C4.2: Assets added to the Asset Register in 2016-17
| Assets | Value ($ million) |
|---|---|
| Capital Works (Schools): | 3.1 |
| Investment in Gungahlin School Infrastructure - Bonner Primary School | |
| Investment in Gungahlin School Infrastructure - Palmerston Primary School | |
| Capital works - various school and preschool sites | 11.6 |
| Capital initiatives - various ICT and other projects | 7.7 |
| Total | 22.4 |
Source: Education Directorate
Surplus Assets
As at 30 June 2017, 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 supports schools to develop their repairs and maintenance plans 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 2016-17, the Directorate spent $16.7 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) are conducted on a three-year rolling program and the assessments cover buildings and grounds. The results of these reports are taken into account in preparing the Directorate’s annual repairs and maintenance programs.
In 2016-17 a number of major contracts were established to provide maintenance and support services at all schools. New contracts for security monitoring, security patrols and solar panel maintenance were implemented in 2016-17. A new contract for the maintenance of heating, ventilation and cooling systems was developed and implemented in 2016-17. New services agreements for cleaning of schools were also established in this year.
To assist in the management of asbestos and other hazardous materials, Hazardous Materials Survey Management Plans (HMSMP) are developed for each school. Plans showing areas of known asbestos containing materials are mounted in entry areas of all schools and preschools. The Directorate updates the asbestos register and asbestos management plans at a minimum every five years and as required based on the results of hazardous materials inspections.
In addition to the planned school asset maintenance and upgrade programs managed and delivered by the Education Support Office, schools are also funded to undertake repairs and minor works tasks independently.
Assets Upgrades
In the 2016-17 Budget, funding of $14.7 million was provided for capital upgrades at schools and preschools. Details of specific works are included in Section C3.
Office Accommodation
There were 459 staff occupying office based workstations as at 30 June 2017 (excluding the Office of the Board of Senior Secondary Studies), occupying a total of 6,080m2. Details about the list of sites, staff numbers (head count) and space occupied are provided in Table C4.3. Remaining staff were employed in school environments undertaking school based activities, including teaching, student support, school leadership and school administration. Full staffing profiles are reported in Section B8.
Table C4.3: Education Support Office sites, staff numbers (headcount) and space occupied as at 30 June 2017
| Building and location | Staff numbers | Approximate area occupied (m2) | Average area occupied per employee (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 220 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon | 146 | 1,991 | 13.6 |
| Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stirling1 | 244 | 3,447 | 14.1 |
| Gilmore Primary School, Majura Primary School, Melrose High School, Wanniassa (P-10) School Senior Campus &University of Canberra High School Kaleen2 | 69 | 642 | 9.3 |
| Callam Offices, Phillip3 (The Office of the Board of Senior Secondary Studies) | 12 | 466 | 38.8 |
| Total | 4714,5 | 6,546 | 13.9 |
Source: Education Directorate
Notes:
1 Approximate area occupied at Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning does not include meeting rooms and training facilities (1,955m2) available for booking by other Directorates of ACT Government and members of the public.
2 School areas that are occupied by Education Support Office staff are from the Network Student Engagement and Hearing & Vision Support Teams.
3 The Office of the Board of Senior Secondary Studies has been relocated from Lyons Early Childhood School to Callam Offices in response to the planned transfer of a portion of Lyons Early Childhood School to the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. The office area has reduced from 713m2 in 2015-16 down to 604m2 in 2016-17 as a reflection of providing existing purpose built office accommodation. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership is co-located within the same office space and leases 138m2 of the office area from the Education Directorate.
4 Staff numbers do not include twenty two (22) SSICT staff embedded in Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning and four (4) SSICT staff embedded in Callam Offices with the Office of the Board of Senior Secondary Studies.
5 Staff numbers have been calculated based on occupied work stations at 30 June 2017.
For further information contact:
Director
Infrastructure and Capital Works
(02) 6205 1289