Construction begins on Pimpama school

Published Friday, 14 February, 2014 at 12:27 PM

Minister for Education, Training and Employment
The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek

Construction has begun on a new primary school in Pimpama, the first of 10 to be built in Queensland as part of a $1.517 billion public private partnership.

Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek signified the occasion with a sod turning ceremony at the new site off Dixon Drive, just down from Pimpama State Secondary College.

“Today marks the beginning of an exciting five-year construction project to build ten schools in population growth spots, for more than 10,000 students, 500 teachers and 130 non-teaching staff,” Mr Langbroek said.

“The Newman Government is working with the private sector to deliver the school facilities our communities desperately need, while saving hardworking Queenslanders’ taxpayer dollars and creating around 1700 jobs annually.

“The Newman Government is getting value for money while delivering much needed infrastructure.

“We are planning new schools methodically and responsibly after Labor’s haphazard and financially irresponsible approach over 20 years,” he said.

Mr Langbroek said the Newman Government’s Schools Planning Commission had worked with the Queensland Government’s Statistician to identify where schools could be needed across Queensland over the next two decades.

“The state, Catholic and independent sectors have worked closely together with local government and other organisations to analyse development hot spots,” Mr Langbroek said.

“The Commission’s next report and demand maps are due mid-year.”

He said the Pimpama school would be well under way by then - built under a public private partnership by the Plenary Schools consortium which would design, construct, commission, partly finance, maintain and provide facilities management services for the schools until 2043.

“Along with this Prep to Year 6 school in Pimpama, two new schools will be built in Caboolture, with others to be built in Burpengary, Pallara, Ripley Valley, Springfield, Griffin, Bellbird Park and Redbank Plains,” he said.

Mr Langbroek said the Pimpama site and a high school in Burpengary would open next year, followed by four primary schools opening in 2016 and three primary schools and one high school in 2017.

“By providing this vital infrastructure in some of the state’s fastest growing regions, we’re helping to secure the future of education in Queensland,” Mr Langbroek said.

“We’re also delivering on our promise to revitalise front line services for Queensland families.”

The member for Coomera Michael Crandon said the local community was looking forward to welcoming students into the brand new school for the start of the 2015 academic year.

“My electorate is well and truly a ‘growth hotspot’ and we are delighted to have more educational facilities opening in our local area,” Mr Crandon said.

“We’ll be holding community consultations to decide on a name for the school as construction progresses.

“The second stage of the school is expected to be complete by 2017 – the next three years will see a lot of opportunity and enthusiasm injected in our part of Queensland, thanks to the Newman Government.”

[ENDS] 14 February 2014

Media contacts: Minister’s office 3237 1000           Coomera electorate office: (07) 5514 0483