Premier Mark McGowan and Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery joined Southern River MLA Terry Healy and local community members to turn the sod to mark the start of construction on a brand new Southern River primary school.
A key McGowan Government election commitment, the $7.15 million Stage 1 primary school is scheduled to open for kindergarten and pre-primary students in 2021.
Work is being undertaken by Universal Constructions, supporting local jobs, with stage one to include an administration block, early childhood building with five classrooms, a library, staffroom, two car parks, and streetside parking bays.
Stage two will see the expansion of the school to cater for up to 540 students from kindergarten to Year 6, with this work expected to be completed for the start of the 2023 school year.
The new school will be located on Basset Way in Southern River.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“It is fantastic to see the first elements of this new school emerge, and its buildings will grow as this brand new community itself takes shape.
“The construction project will include employment for local building industry workers.
“Once the new school is complete, there will also be a range of job opportunities for teachers and other school staff.”
As stated by Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery:
“Families in Perth’s growing south-east will benefit from this state-of-the-art primary school in a new Southern River neighbourhood.
“This will be a stunning new school for families moving to the area, and will provide outstanding education programs for local children.”
As stated by Southern River MLA Terry Healy:
“I am proud to deliver on my promise to build two new primary schools in Southern River.
“This new primary school will ease the pressure created by growth at Bletchley Park and provide world-class facilities for local children.”
