Massive development projects coming at SA public schools as $50m announced to help capacity

Some public schools across South Australia have been allocated about $10m each in funding for projects to increase capacity. See if your school was among them.

South Australian public schools will benefit from more than $50m in upgrades to help increase student capacity.

New construction projects were announced for at least five sites on Tuesday by Education Minister Blair Boyer.

Among the developments is $10m for Fairview Park Primary School in Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs, to replace classrooms with modern buildings.

Fraser Park Primary School in Murray Bridge will also receive $10m from the funding package, which will be put towards demolishing old transportable buildings and replacing the preschool.

Sites benefiting from multimillion dollar improvements also include Fulham Gardens Primary School in Adelaide’s west with an $1m boost and Taparra Primary School in the northern suburbs who will receive $8m.

A further $5m was allocated to Mt Barker High School to support an increase in capacity and new physical education and food technology areas.

Education Minister Blair Boyer announced a $50m funding package to help with capacity at schools. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“The funding is targeted to help public schools with the greatest need deliver an education for students in facilities that are modern and fit for purpose,” Mr Boyer said.

“Every investment we are making is aimed at making sure families can be confident in choosing their local school.”

The funding package will allow the Education Department to progress urgent upgrades at high priority sites.

Funding was allocated to upgrade and improve existing infrastructure and replacing buildings that have reached the end of their serviceable life.

It comes after the state government announced a new 20-year infrastructure plan in 2024.

In a report outlining the 20-year plan, it was found without action “the projected increase of assets in poor or very poor condition would more than double over the next 20 years”.

The average age of a public school building is 44-years-old and 35 per cent of all buildings managed by the Education Department are past their design life, the report said.

The report said that infrastructure upgrades at certain schools were influencing enrolment decisions and the former approach led to a lack of funding available “in the remaining majority of public schools” in the state.