A new year and a new school are awaiting more than 700 students at New Town High School with work well underway on the $2.83 million capital works project.
This investment in education is a great example of the Government’s priorities for 2016. With the budget back on track as a result of the difficult decisions we made we can now reinvest the dividends of this hard work into the core essential services of Government and the things that affect Tasmanians the most – education, health and protecting the most vulnerable.
Importantly, this investment in school infrastructure will create access for all students at the state’s only all-boys Government school, with the addition of a lift and level access to the school.
Other work includes the creation of a new entrance, which flows on from the main access route to the school and a new three-level front office and administration area.
When the school bell rings on the first day of Term 1 the new lift will be up and running providing disability access, while the office and administration area is due for completion around March.
This investment in a contemporary learning facility has also created economic growth and jobs from planning to construction.
Tasmanian businesses Macquarie Builders and Heffernan Button Voss Architects have both been working on this project for months.
Macquarie Builders estimates it has 10 workers on site, and an additional 10 sub-contractors including, plumbers, electrician and roofer working on the project.
While Heffernan Button Voss says about four staff have worked on the project, which has included fixing the issue of the original school entry being located on the opposite side of the campus to the main car park and approach road.
This is part of our record $1.44 billion investment in education across Tasmania.
We want to ensure that young Tasmanians have the opportunity to explore their passions and discover a path to their future career in the most contemporary learning environment possible.