Fregon Anangu School gets $33m upgrade in the APY Lands

The cost to upgrade an APY Lands school for 60 students has more than doubled in the wake of Covid, supply shortages and its remote location.

A $33.2 million school upgrade and six new four-wheel drive buses will help bolster education in the remote Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands this year.

Students will return to Fregon Anangu School in Kaltjiti next week to find many of the old buildings have been knocked down in preparation for a swath of new buildings set to be completed by July 22.

Adelaide-based Sarah Constructions is carrying out the works, which will result in flexible learning spaces for the 60-odd students who attend the remote school, about 1300km north of Adelaide.

In addition to new buildings for junior, primary and secondary teaching and learning, the school will also get new food technology and administration facilities.

The school, which was the first school on the APY Lands to host a Prime Minister in 2016, will also have a new covered outdoor learning area constructed with external works and landscaping.

Artist impressions of a $33.2m upgrade for Fregon Anangu School in the APY Lands. Picture: Grieve Gillet Andersen

The project was first announced in 2018 at a cost of $15.7m but that cost has nearly doubled. Education Minister Blair Boyer said the impact of Covid, supply shortages and Fregon’s remote location had all contributed to the blowout.

“However, in terms of equity for the students learning, the State Government has remained committed to delivering on this project, and in turn seeing that every school has the opportunity to be a great school,” he said.

Principal Sara Porzio, one of several APY Lands teachers who feature in today’s SA Weekend magazine, said the new facilities were “exciting”.

Students in the APY Lands will also have access to six new 23-seat, 4WD school buses this year. The new buses, with a total cost of $1.5m will replace old ones and provide transport to Ernabella, Pipalyatjara, Murputja and Mimili Anangu schools.