C13 Capital works

The Directorate's capital works management program for 2010-11, detailing the completed projects and works still in progress at the year end is shown in Table C13.1.

Overview

In 2010-11, the Directorate once again delivered a large capital works program totalling $187.5 million, following on from the $204.1 million program delivered in 2009-10. Between 2005-06 and 2011-12 the Directorate has delivered ACT Government capital investments at ACT public schools valued at $650 million. In addition to this investment in ACT public schools, the Australian Government's Building the Education Revolution (BER) initiative added a further $150.5 million of capital works to this seven year capital investment program.

The reporting year was significant with the completion of all BER projects at ACT public schools and the ACT Government's five year Schools Infrastructure Refurbishment program, as well as the opening of the new Gungahlin College and the Namadgi School in Kambah.

Expenditure of $177 million (95 percent of budget) was achieved during the reporting period, with all major projects either complete or on target to be delivered by the scheduled completion date.

Significant capital works

Building the Education Revolution initiative

The BER initiative commenced on 9 February 2009 and continued through 2009-10 and 2010-11. This initiative was a national partnership between the ACT and the Australian Government aimed at upgrading school buildings and providing jobs under the Australian Government's Nation Building and Jobs Plan stimulus package.

All ACT public schools benefited from projects funded under the BER. A total of 152 projects were approved across ACT public schools, including 84 smaller projects under the National School Pride (NSP) program undertaken at 82 schools and 68 larger projects under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century (P21) program at 66 schools. The total value of approved BER projects was $150.5 million.

National School Pride

The NSP projects ranged in cost from $0.05 million to $2.0 million and included shade shelters, covered outdoor learning areas, classroom refurbishments, school entry refurbishments and the installation of interactive white boards. All NSP projects were completed in the 2009-10 year, with the ACT being the first jurisdiction to complete all NSP projects for its public schools.

Primary Schools for the 21st Century

The P21 projects ranged in cost from $0.25 million to $3.0 million and included new assembly halls, libraries, multi-purpose buildings, classrooms and environment centres as well as upgrades to existing halls, libraries and classrooms.

Work was completed on 19 of the 68 P21 projects in 2009-10, with the remaining 49 projects completed during the reporting period. The final project – the Urambi Environment Centre – was completed at the new Namadgi School on 23 May 2011. The ACT was the first jurisdiction to complete all P21 projects.

A key outcome of the P21 projects was the inclusion of innovative environmentally sustainable design features in the project designs. This was exemplified in the Green Building Council of Australia registered 6 Green Star design rated environment centre at Gold Creek School. This facility includes photovoltaic panels integrated into the roof, fixed external shading, natural ventilation, thermal chimneys for passive cooling, rainwater and grey water collection and a sophisticated building control system to manage energy use.

Official recognition ceremonies to mark the completion of P21 projects were held at four schools during the 2009-10 year, with ceremonies held at a further 62 schools during the 2010-11 reporting period.

Building the Education Revolution Implementation Taskforce

The Australian Government established the BER Implementation Taskforce in May 2010 to investigate complaints and assess value for money aspects for P21 projects across all jurisdiction and education authorities. The Directorate assisted the Taskforce with its inquiries including detailed cost information on 16 ACT public school projects, a value for money review on the North Ainslie Primary School project and details on environmentally sustainable design features included in ACT public school P21 projects.

The Taskforce presented an interim report in August 2010 and delivered its first report on 15 December 2010. The Taskforce's Final Report was delivered in the 2011-12 year, on 8 July 2011.

The Taskforce reported favourably on the ACT's performance in the delivery of the P21 projects, confirming that the new library at the North Ainslie Primary School achieved value for money and, overall, the ACT had attained value for money on its BER implementation. The Taskforce identified that the ACT, along with Tasmania, had built some inspiring buildings and empowered school communities and managing architects. The Taskforce specifically noted that innovative renewable heating and cooling systems had been included in ACT public school projects.

Schools Infrastructure Refurbishment program

This was the final year of a revised five-year Schools Infrastructure Refurbishment program for older ACT public schools. The full program of works included new gymnasiums, integrated early childhood centres, new performing arts centres as well as general upgrades and refurbishments concentrating on schools more than 12 years old.

The total budget allocation was $86 million over the five year period 2006-07 to 2010-11. During the 2010-11 year, the final major capital improvement project at Narrabundah College was completed.

The new languages learning centre at Narrabundah College was completed in November 2010 and included six classrooms and shared learning space. The centre has been designed for college studies as well as community use outside school hours. The new centre followed the refurbishment and extension of the College's library resource centre and refurbishment of the Hawk Theatre completed in the 2009-10 year.

Other capital improvement works under the Schools Infrastructure Refurbishment program were completed during the reporting period at Belconnen and Stromlo High Schools, and University of Canberra High School, Kaleen and Dickson and Hawker Colleges.

Gungahlin College

Gungahlin College was constructed at Gungahlin Town Centre and caters for 900 students in years 11 and 12. The new college was ready for the start of the 2011 school year, opening on 7 February 2011 to year 11 students.

The college complex includes a Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) flexible learning centre, a joint college/community library, a gymnasium, and a performing arts centre as well as the college facilities. The town park, managed by the Territory and Municipal Services Directorate, was also completed in February 2011.

Gungahlin College was designed to meet best practice approaches in teaching and learning and provides a 21st century teaching and learning environment for staff and students. This involves a flexible 'learning hub' concept that includes a range of learning modes from conventional classroom instruction through to spaces for small group work and independent student research and work stations.

The college's state-of-the-art and specialist features include a media centre with television and photography studios, dance and drama studios, a mechatronics (robotics) suite, a computer networking laboratory and high standard hospitality course facilities. The CIT will share some college facilities including the hospitality facility, which has a commercial kitchen, and a systems technology suite.

The school also has internal cabling and wireless technology for computer-based learning and outdoor learning environments. The design incorporates a range of environmentally sustainable design features aimed at achieving a 5 Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

In addition to the CIT flexible learning centre and the joint college/community library, the Gungahlin community will have access to a range of college facilities including the performing arts theatre, lecture theatre, gymnasium and outdoor sports facilities (tennis, basketball and netball).

To assist potential students and Gungahlin residents, a temporary office for the college's Principal and support staff was established in The Marketplace shopping centre, operating from July 2010 to January 2011.

The total budget for 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 and the joint college/community library.

Namadgi School

The new Namadgi School was constructed on the site of the former Kambah High School and caters for students from preschool to year 10, living in the suburb of Kambah. The school will cater for 900 students.

The school design includes an Intensive Language Learning Unit and specialist learning facilities, including a flexible learning centre, autism unit and an early intervention unit. The design also incorporates a range of environmentally sustainable design features aimed at achieving a 5 Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

A construction manager, Manteena Pty Ltd, was contracted in late 2008-09 to construct the new school. Demolition of the former Kambah High School facilities was completed and construction of the new school commenced in October 2009.

Stage 1 of the new school, comprising the preschool to year 8 facilities, was ready for the start of the 2011 school year, opening on 7 February 2011 to preschool to year 7 students. Stage 2 of the new school, comprising the year 9 to 10 facilities including the gymnasium were completed early and were handed over to the school in May 2011.

In addition to the new school facilities for the Namadgi School, construction was completed on the new $2.0 million Urambi Environment Centre funded by the Australian Government under the BER initiative.

Other significant capital works

Harrison Secondary School

Harrison School commenced operation in February 2008 catering for students from preschool to year 6. The school will also include a secondary campus on the same site, catering for 800 additional students.

Similar to the preschool and primary school, the secondary school has been designed to support the latest educational practices and will provide an inclusive setting for students with special needs and provide opportunities for special needs students to integrate into mainstream educational programs. The school will also provide facilities for students with high support needs.

The secondary school includes specialist teaching areas for performing arts, technology, science and arts. The project design also incorporates a range of environmentally sustainable design features aimed at achieving a 5 Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

The construction manager, St Hilliers Group, commenced construction on the secondary school in early 2010 with the works program arranged to allow the progressive completion and handover of school buildings during 2011 and all of the works completed ready for the start of 2012.

Stage 1 of the secondary school, comprising the middle school classrooms and gymnasium, were ready to be handed over to the school early in the 2011-12 year. The stage 2 buildings remained on target to be completed ready for the start of the 2012 school year.

The total budget for the Harrison Secondary School is $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.

Franklin Early Childhood School

Forward design for the new Franklin Early Childhood School commenced during the reporting period with Preliminary Sketch Plans presented in March 2011. Design documentation had further progressed by the end of the reporting period with Final Sketch Plans delivered early in the 2011-12 year.

Construction of the new school will commence in the 2011-12 year, with the stage 1 facilities ready for the start of the 2013 school year.

Bonner Primary School

Forward design for the new Bonner Primary School also commenced during the reporting period with Final Sketch Plans presented in March 2011. Design documentation had further progressed by the end of the reporting period with full tender-ready documentation completed early in the 2011-12 year.

Construction of the new school will commence in the 2011-12 year, with the stage 1 facilities ready for the start of the 2013 school year.

Molonglo (Coombs) Primary School

Forward design for the new Coombs Primary School in the District of Molonglo commenced during the reporting period. This will be the first school in the Molonglo district. Detailed design work will be undertaken in the 2011-12 year, with the school scheduled to open at the start of the 2015 school year.

New capital works projects

Calwell High School Performing Arts Centre

This is the second performing arts centre to be constructed across the ACT, with the new centre handed over to the school in February 2011. Similar to the new centre at Lyneham High School, the Calwell High School Performing Arts Centre is available for use by community groups and community performances.

Canberra College Performing Arts Theatre

This is the third and largest performing arts centre in the ACT. The designs for the new centre were completed during the reporting period. A local ACT construction company, Cobul Constructions, was contracted to build the new centre. Site preparation works were commenced in June 2011, with construction scheduled to be completed in 2012.

Red Hill School extension

Works to establish the French Australia Preschool as a separate stand alone facility were completed in the reporting period.

The Masterplan for the Red Hill School precinct, including a concept design for the adjacent Voyager Park, were completed during the reporting period. Final Sketch Plans to extend the Red Hill School and to improve landscape and carparks were also completed during the reporting period with construction works on track to commence early in the 2011-12 year.

Local Schools Working Together

Construction of the new artificial sports field at Gold Creek and Holy Spirit Schools was completed in the reporting period. This was a project funded under the Australian Government's Local Schools Working Together program and managed by the Directorate. This is the largest artificial sports field in the ACT.

More Teachers, Lower Class Sizes

Construction of the final projects under this program at Ngunnawal and Torrens Primary Schools were well advanced by the end of the reporting period. These projects will be completed in the 2011-12 year.

Works were completed under this program at Harrison and Amaroo School, Telopea Park School, Ainslie School and Miles Franklin Primary School.

Public schools – water tanks

Works were completed at a further 37 schools, bringing the total number of water tanks installed at ACT public schools under this program to 60. This program will be completed in the 2011-12 year, with water tanks installed at all ACT public schools.

Environment – solar schools

A panel of six solar panel supply companies were contracted to install solar power systems at all ACT public schools. A program to install solar panels at 19 ACT public schools was confirmed in the reporting period, with panels to be installed early in the 2011-12 year. Solar panels at further ACT public schools will be scheduled for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 years.

Car Parks and Traffic Improvements

Improvement works under this program were completed at three schools, with design for improvement works at two other schools also completed.

Security Fences
Installation works under this program were completed at seven schools in the reporting period.

Regional Development Australia Fund
The Directorate submitted two proposals for capital funding under the Australian Government's Regional Development Australia Fund to construct a new dedicated facility for the award-winning Canberra College Cares (CCCares) program to be integrated into the new Bonner Primary School.

Table C13.1: Capital works management, 2010-11

Source: Finance and Corporate Support Branch

Note:
a. Actual expenditure in 2010-11 excludes expenditure associated with bank interest.

Table C13.2: End-of-year reconciliation schedule, 2010-11

Source: Finance and Corporate Support Branch

For more information contact:
Director
Schools Capital Works
(02) 6205 3173