Public Private Partnership to build seven new schools
Published Wednesday, 13 February, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Seven new schools will be built in south-east Queensland through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
Premier Anna Bligh announced today that the Government would be seeking expressions of interest from the private sector in building and maintaining the package of new schools in the Sunshine Coast, Western Corridor and Redlands areas.
“These areas have been chosen on future population projects and are key growth areas in the south east corner,” Ms Bligh said.
“Work is set to get underway early next year with 4 schools set to have students in the door from the start of the 2010 – one on the Sunshine Coast, two in the Western Corridor and one in the Redlands area.
“The remaining 3 schools – two in the Western Corridor and one on the Sunshine Coast – will be open to students in 2011.
“The schools will be built under an innovative new public private partnership model – the SEQ Schools Project.
“The private sector will be engaged to build, maintain and manage the schools and all education services will be provided by the State.”
The private sector will take responsibility for the construction and on-going maintenance of the schools over a concession period of about 30 years.
The scope of the on-going tasks to be undertaken by the private sector includes building repairs, cleaning, janitorial duties, grounds keeping and security.
Ms Bligh said by giving responsibility for these services to the private sector, the schools’ principal and educational staff would be able to focus on what they do best – educating young Queenslanders.
“Partnering with the private sector offers the best of both worlds,” Ms Bligh said.
“This PPP delivers by offering state of the art schools in our community while maximising value for money for taxpayers.”
The Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford, said the initiative will build on the success of the first educational PPP, which delivered the award-winning Southbank Education and Training Precinct.
“The Southbank PPP, which last year was judged the ‘Best Global Project’ in the international Public Private Finance Awards, has given us significant experience in developing educational PPP projects,” Mr Welford said.
“We also investigated the New South Wales New Schools PPP projects which deliver significant value for money for the Government and the community.”
The SEQ Schools Project will adopt a model that enables the utilisation of lower public sector borrowing rates during the project’s low-risk operational phase.
Ms Bligh said the delivery of the SEQ Schools Project as a Supported Debt Model PPP reinforced the State’s commitment to delivering infrastructure in the most cost-effective way.
The Government will seek expressions of interest from the private sector this month (February).
13 February, 2008
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500
Minister’s office – 3237 1000
Premier Anna Bligh announced today that the Government would be seeking expressions of interest from the private sector in building and maintaining the package of new schools in the Sunshine Coast, Western Corridor and Redlands areas.
“These areas have been chosen on future population projects and are key growth areas in the south east corner,” Ms Bligh said.
“Work is set to get underway early next year with 4 schools set to have students in the door from the start of the 2010 – one on the Sunshine Coast, two in the Western Corridor and one in the Redlands area.
“The remaining 3 schools – two in the Western Corridor and one on the Sunshine Coast – will be open to students in 2011.
“The schools will be built under an innovative new public private partnership model – the SEQ Schools Project.
“The private sector will be engaged to build, maintain and manage the schools and all education services will be provided by the State.”
The private sector will take responsibility for the construction and on-going maintenance of the schools over a concession period of about 30 years.
The scope of the on-going tasks to be undertaken by the private sector includes building repairs, cleaning, janitorial duties, grounds keeping and security.
Ms Bligh said by giving responsibility for these services to the private sector, the schools’ principal and educational staff would be able to focus on what they do best – educating young Queenslanders.
“Partnering with the private sector offers the best of both worlds,” Ms Bligh said.
“This PPP delivers by offering state of the art schools in our community while maximising value for money for taxpayers.”
The Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford, said the initiative will build on the success of the first educational PPP, which delivered the award-winning Southbank Education and Training Precinct.
“The Southbank PPP, which last year was judged the ‘Best Global Project’ in the international Public Private Finance Awards, has given us significant experience in developing educational PPP projects,” Mr Welford said.
“We also investigated the New South Wales New Schools PPP projects which deliver significant value for money for the Government and the community.”
The SEQ Schools Project will adopt a model that enables the utilisation of lower public sector borrowing rates during the project’s low-risk operational phase.
Ms Bligh said the delivery of the SEQ Schools Project as a Supported Debt Model PPP reinforced the State’s commitment to delivering infrastructure in the most cost-effective way.
The Government will seek expressions of interest from the private sector this month (February).
13 February, 2008
Media contact: Premier’s office – 3224 4500
Minister’s office – 3237 1000