$24.7 mil: what has this school spent it on?

Palmerston’s MacKillop Catholic Collegespent more than $20 million on capital works in three years, but what did it spend it on?

MacKillop Catholic College students Tahlia Kirkham-Chandler, Brooke Phelan, Ronan Korisan, Amelia Cole and Madison Fleming with some of the school’s new infrastructure. Picture: KATRINA BRIDGEFORD.

PALMERSTON’S MacKillop Catholic College spent a whopping $24.7 million in three years to accommodate its rapidly growing cohort.

An investigation into the Federal Government’s MySchool website revealed MacKillop Catholic College spent $24.7 million on capital works across 2015 to 2017.

This was the most spent by any Territory school during the three-year period.

The school, which opened in 2012 with just 105 students, is growing close to its maximum capacity of 800 students.

MacKillop Catholic College in 2011. Picture: MacKillop Catholic College

A MacKillop Catholic College spokesman said there was a constant race to build and accommodate the growth. “In addition to the construction of new classroom buildings and learning facilities, which make up the bulk of the expenditure, our capital works have included accessibility infrastructure such as walkways, community sporting facilities … shade structures, seating and barbecue facilities, and renewable energy infrastructure with a large array of rooftop solar panels,” he said.

Capital works are continuing, with the school to begin construction on a million-dollar vocational education training (VET) centre, with the first stage costing about $400,000.

MacKillop Catholic College in 2014. Picture: MacKillop Catholic College

TOP 50 NT schools which spent most on capital works

MacKillop Catholic College in 2018. Picture: MacKillop Catholic College

MacKillop Catholic College principal Lauretta Graham said about 150 students were currently involved in the school’s VET courses.

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“We’re also slowly increasing our scope of subjects offering,” she said. “Our staff are dedicated to the children of Palmerston and want to give them the best experience of school.”