Statements
Brighton & Legana Schools Construction
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 11 March 2021
Architects appointed for new school builds
A new high school and new primary school that will service two of the State’s fastest growing communities are another step closer, with architects appointed to the projects.
Three Tasmanian architectural firms with significant experience in designing contemporary education infrastructure in Tasmania have been appointed to the Brighton High School and Legana Primary School projects.
Jaws Architects and Heffernan Button Voss Architects have been appointed to co-design the new $50 million Brighton High School, which will cater for up to 600 students.
And architectural firm Cumulus Studio has been engaged to design the new $24 million Legana Primary School, which will cater for up to 350 students.
The two new Tasmanian Government schools are part of our plan to improve education outcomes and provide modern facilities for our learners.
Engaging the architects for these major projects is a significant milestone and project working groups will now be established to commence development of concept master plans for both schools.
Extensive community engagement has already been undertaken for these new schools and once concept plans are developed, these will also be made available to the community for further feedback.
Media release – Brighton Council, 11 March 2021
Brighton welcomes progress on high school
Brighton Council has welcomed the appointment of architects to design the new Brighton High School, announced by Education and Training Minister, Jeremy Rockliff.
Mayor Tony Foster said the appointment of Jaws Architects and Heffernan Button Voss Architects represented an important milestone in progressing the high school development towards its first student intake in 2025.
“I have long believed that education is a key to the growth and development of our community and the new high school is necessary to support our current and increasing population. Minister Rockliff’s announcement of the appointment of architects provides important certainty for the community,” Cr Foster said.
“Our population is relatively young and with hundreds of children travelling from Brighton for their education every school day, there is a growing need for the new high school here.
“State Treasury has forecast that Brighton will be Tasmania’s fastest growing municipality over the next two and a half decades, with the population predicted to rise to more than 24,000 by 2045. It is vital the appropriate services and facilities are provided to cater for this population growth and the provision of education opportunities is vitally important in any healthy and growing community.”
“Brighton Council had been working for many years to secure the high school development to cater for the significant growth in the municipality and the surrounding region and the architects’ appointment brings this yet another step closer.
“It is in line with a key focus of our recently adopted 2050 Vision ‘ensuring quality education and training to meet the needs of everyone’.
“The High School project is consistent with Brighton Council’s strategic planning for the growth and development of the municipality now and into the future. When construction starts, it will significantly stimulate local employment. The project will also unlock the co-ordinated development of Brighton’s southern precinct as a new gateway to the town.”
Cr Foster said Council looked forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the State Government to ensure the best, long-term provision of educational outcomes for the community.
“On behalf of Brighton Council and our community I commend Minister Rockliff for his support and the State Government for its commitment to this important project, honouring the promise made prior to the 2018 State Election,” Cr Foster said.
Media release – Josh Willie MLC, Shadow Education Minister, 11 March 2021
Rockliff not to be believed on new school delivery when the facts show badly broken promises
Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff’s desperate on-going attempts to convince Tasmanians he is trying to deliver crucial new schools are in reality an attempt to cover up badly broken promises.
Shadow Education Minister Josh Willie said Mr Rocklift’s latest attempt – announcing the appointment of architects for schools in Brighton and Legana – did nothing to disguise the fact that both are disappointingly delayed on his watch.
“It’s laughable that Mr Rockliff would try to tell Tasmanians he is busy building when the polar opposite is true,” Mr Willie said.
“Both the Brighton High School and Legana Primary School are crucial to cater for growing student numbers but both communities have witnessed a lot of talk and very, very little action.
“More than three years ago the Liberals promised the new Legana school would be finished in 2023 and early this year they confirmed the project had now pushed out to 2024.
“In 2018, Tasmanians were told the Brighton High School would be delivered by 2024 and the Liberals have now confirmed it will not be finished until 2025.
“Improved educational attainment and retainment are crucial to the job prospects and future careers of young Tasmanians as well as for Tasmania’s economy.
“Mr Rockliff continually cherry picks statistics to try to convince Tasmanians all is well but unfortunately we have the lowest Year 12 retention rates of any Australian state at under 74 per cent and attainment rates for Year 12 students have declined for the third year in a row to just 58 per cent.
“Mr Rockliff cannot continue to claim everything is OK when he is failing to deliver badly required infrastructure.
“He needs to tell Tasmanian families why he has broken some of his key election promises and why he has failed to give priority to these important school projects which are vital for our children’s future.”
Media release – Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training, 11 March 2021
Josh Willie deliberately misleads Tasmanians
The Legana Primary School and Brighton High School will be operational within the original timeframes, despite baseless scaremongering by the Opposition.
Mr Willie has been consistently reminded of this fact, however he deliberately chooses to mislead Tasmanians in a desperate attempt for a headline.
For the benefit of Mr Willie, I will once again clarify the facts: the Legana Primary School will open to students in 2024 and the Brighton High School in 2025.
And if Mr Willie needs any further clarification, I’m happy to remind him that these two projects will service two of Tasmania’s fastest growing communities.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to improving education outcomes, and ensuring students can learn in contemporary learning environments.