Coast schools get $114 million for new buildings in state budget

Gold Coast schools are among the winners in today’s state budget, with a new school planned and millions pledged for new buildings. Is your school on the list?

A NEW primary school has been committed to the Gold Coast’s fastest-growing suburb as part of a $114 million spend on education upgrades, but many of those close to capacity have missed out.

Palm Beach State School, which is at 92 per cent capacity and about to run out of room, and Currumbin State School (91 per cent) will not have classroom extensions in the next year.

This is despite Treasurer Jackie Trad yesterday saying the Government was “increasing our investment in education infrastructure by a massive 80 per cent on last year’s budget”.

A concept drawing of how the new primary school in Pimpama may look.

SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS + JABRA WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Budget papers reveal funding for education infrastructure on the Gold Coast will increase by $32.8 million this year from about $82 million in 2018-2019.

In a bid to keep up with the exploding population the State Government has committed $54.2 million to a new primary school on Yawalpah Road, Pimpama, $14.8 million of which will be spent in the 2019-2020 financial year.

According to the latest education data, the area’s other close-to-capacity schools will receive more than $3 million each for extra classrooms.

The utilisation rate at Pimpama State School is 98 per cent. Pimpama State Primary College is at 74 per cent.

An injection of $43.5 million will go to the yet-to-be named new Coomera High School which is under construction on Foxwell Rd.

The funding is part of a $54 million construction commitment to stage one of the school, which will open next year.

Coomera and Pimpama are estimated to be home to 63,762 and 25,931 people respectively by 2036. At the 2016 Census, they were 13,305 and 9396 respectively.

Since 2015, 654 teachers have been added to the Gold Coast network, an increase of 14.5 per cent.

Ormeau State School at 91 per cent capacity will receive $8.3 million for the completion of a new building with eight extra classrooms and one flexible learning space.

Tamborine Mountain State High School, Pacific Pines State High School, Southport State High School, Broadbeach State School and Palm Beach Currumbin State High School will all receive continued funding for additional learning areas.

MY FIRST YEAR 2019: CELEBRATING PREP CLASSES

Pacific Pines State High School gets $3.7 million this fincial year towards a new building with 12 new classrooms and three specialist areas.

MORE NEWS

Star to slash staff as revenue falls

Shocking pictures of vet’s animal neglect

Why Walsh knows Keebra can win again

LNP Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor said he was disappointed that the older schools in his area did not get funding.

“I have some of the oldest schools in the city but we have not seen a cent delivered to them,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Arundel State School for example is at a point where it is renting land from council to rest demountables — we aren’t seeing the funding we need.”

Southport MP Rob Molhoek said schools funding was the first thing he looked for when he opened the budget papers.

“None of the schools in my electorate, Ashmore, Bellevue, Benowa or Southport State School got any extra funding, and we are such a fast growing area,” he said.

“The money for Southport State High was already committed as well, so there is nothing new for our schools.”

A major boost of $15 million has been committed to refurbishing and expanding the Gold Coast’s TAFE training facilities as part of a state election commitment.

The announcement follows a $1.5 million fit-out of the Ashmore Trade Training Centre this year for 1200 students studying the electrical and electrical and airconditioning refrigeration streams.

GOLD COAST SCHOOLS ALLOCATED MONEY IN BUDGET

New Pimpama Primary School: $14.8 million of $54.2 million build cost.

New Coomera secondary school: $43.5 million of the $54 million build cost.

Ormeau State School: $8.3 million of $8.7 million for a new building with eight class rooms and one flexible learning space.

Pimpama State School: Spending $3.1 of $6.5 million for new classrooms.

Pimpama State Primary College: $3.9 million of $5.5 for a new building with eight new classrooms.

Tamborine Mountain State High School: $4.2 million of $9.9 million for a new building with eight new classrooms and seven specialist areas.

Pacific Pines State High School: $3.7 million of $7 million for a new building with 12 new classrooms and three specialist areas.

Southport State High School: $2.1 million of $10.4 million for a new building with seven classrooms and eight specialist areas.

Broadbeach State School: $6.5 million of $7.6 million for a new building with 12 new classrooms and one flexible learning space.

Palm Beach Currumbin State High School: $2.2 million of $10.5 million for a new building with six new classrooms and two specialist areas.

Gold Coast TAFE: $15 million to refurbish and expand