New public high school for Goolwa on site formerly owned by Investigator College
Families in Goolwa will soon have a local public high school for their children. The $10m upgrade of a former school comes as the South Coast town gears up for a big housing development.
SA News
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Goolwa will have a new high school with the State Government committing $10m to upgrade the site of a former independent school.
The school will initially accommodate up to 400 students but enrolments are expected to grow with a large area of the South Coast town being opened up for residential development.
The new school, due to open in 2022, follows the purchase by the Government of the buildings and site formerly owned by Investigator College.
Education Minister John Gardner said on Saturday the new school would be a major boost for Goolwa.
“This is fantastic news for local families to access public secondary schooling in their own community,” he said.
“Purchasing the former Investigator College campus has provided a unique opportunity to open a new high school without having to start construction from scratch.
“We are creating a facility that will form part of an educational hub for the town, located near Goolwa Primary School and Children’s Centre, delivering a community asset that will support the area as it grows in the coming years.
“Goolwa is the largest town in South Australia not to have a public high school offering, and the long overdue establishment of this school will provide some relief on the capacity pressures at nearby schools in Victor Harbor, Strathalbyn and Mount Compass.”
The purchase price of the site and buildings has not been revealed on commercial grounds.
Alexandrina mayor Keith Parkes welcomed the announcement.
“Right now, there are hundreds of local young people heading outside of Goolwa every day for their education, sport and eventually for work, but a new local high school will encourage young people to stay right here,” he said.
Finniss MP David Basham said the school would create opportunities for the local community.
Alexandrina Council has opened up for public comment plans to change land use at Goolwa for development of up to 1300 new homes.
An area of 200ha area just north of the town would become residential, and another 365ha “deferred urban” to be used for housing down the track.
Investigator College consolidated its reception to Year 12 operation to its Victor Harbor campus. It has about 600 students.
Most South Coast students attending public school go to Victor Harbor High, Eastern Fleurieu at Strathalbyn or Mount Compass Area School.