Gold Coast public state and high schools get new halls, classrooms and upgrades from state government
A $171m cash injection into the Gold Coast's education sector includes a new school, extra classrooms and more. FIND OUT WHICH SCHOOLS GOT MONEY.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE Gold Coast is set for a $171 million schools windfall including new classrooms, halls and 440-plus jobs as part of a record state education budget.
Speaking at a sod-turning for the new $42.7 million Coomera Special School on Wednesday, Education Minister Grace Grace said an education infrastructure investment of almost $1.9 billion would deliver in spades for Gold Coast families and tradies.
“Education budgets are all about building for the future: jobs on infrastructure rebuilding our economy, and providing world-class education facilities for our young people to build a future right here on the Gold Coast,” she said.
Environment Minister and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said the investment in education was in response to the enormous growth occurring on the northern end of the coast.
It includes $24 million for more classrooms at Pacific Pines State High School, more than $1.3 million for upgrades at Nerang State School and $700,000 for William Duncan State School.
The new Coomera Special School is due to open in 2022 and caters for students from Prep to Year 12. Expressions of interest are open now for enrolments.
The Gold Coast 2021-22 education spend includes:
- $28.3 million for stage 2 of the Foxwell State Secondary College at Coomera.
- $16.6 million for stage 2 of Gainsborough State School at Pimpama, to start soon.
- Funds for $26 million worth of extra classrooms at Pacific Pines State High.
- $7.9 million to complete $10.6 million worth of extra classrooms at Palm Beach State School.
- $7.2 million to complete $9.8 million worth of new classrooms at Ormeau Woods State High.
- $5.1 million to start work on a $10 million new hall at Palm Beach Currumbin State High, to be finished in 2023.
- Nearly a million dollars for a bus and taxi set-down at Southport Special School.
- Nearly $600,000 towards a $5 million upgrade of the hall at Nerang State High, to be finished in 2023.
- $971,000 towards a $10 million new hall at Miami State High School, to be finished in 2024.
- Half-a-million dollars to upgrade amenities at Numinbah Valley State School.
Statewide the education budget includes:
- 10 new primary and high schools in the south-east corner to open in 2023 and 2024. These new schools add to the 18 the Government has delivered since 2015, and four others under construction or planned.
- $540.9 million towards more than 300 new classrooms at more than 35 schools as well as administration buildings and amenities, delivering around 1600 jobs.
- more than $23 million to deliver on the 2020 election commitment to build and upgrade training facilities at schools.
Parents fury: Startling overcrowded Coast school bus claims
February 8, 2021
A BUS company has been accused of overloading a school bus route in Tweed Heads, in which almost 30 students as young as five were unbuckled and standing during their commute home.
A local resident, who did not want to be named, said “parents would go through the roof” if they knew that their children were not seated or seatbelted, especially as the bus travelled on a busy section of the M1 that has a speed limit of 100k/ph.
The resident said they saw the crowded Surfside Buslines bus on Friday afternoon. It ferries children from Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar College’s junior campus on Sunshine Ave, Pacific Coast Christian School, St Joseph’s College and St James Primary School.
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 FOR FIRST 28 DAYS
It is believed that bus 1231 to Chinderah, Kingscliff, Casuarina and Bogangar has only enough seats for 62 kids, but that it was overcrowded with 89 students, meaning 27 were standing up for anywhere from five to 20 minutes.
“It’s very doubtful that the school’s principals know about this,” the resident said.
The person said they spoke out about the overcrowding because of concerns for the safety of the children on the bus. They did not want to see such an incident happen again.
A Surfside Buslines spokesperson said it was proud and passionate about making the journey to and from school a safe and comfortable one.
“Our drivers are trained to ensure students travel safety and that no student is left stranded,” he said.
“We continually review passenger levels on our services, in particular at the start of the school year when there may be changes in student travel behaviour.
“We encourage parents to contact our customer service team directly if they have any questions or concerns about our services.”
It’s understood Surfside is contracted by Transport for NSW to deliver the 1231 service, a dedicated school run, and that there is standing room capacity when seats are unavaible. The service also has special speed limitations when carrying standing passengers.
SEQ school bans student promposals, threatens suspension
An elite secondary school has banned students from ‘promposing’ to their dates for formal, with one student threatened with suspension.
Man charged with horror hammer attack on motorsport identity
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged attack on racing car driver Chris Pappas at his Gold Coast home, leaving him in a serious condition.