- Cook Government investing a further $410 million in WA school infrastructure as part of 2024-25 State Budget
- Additional $88.4 million for three new public primary schools to open in 2027
- $73.2 million for Piara Waters Senior High School Stage 2
- Builds on the WA Labor Government’s record $4.4 billion education infrastructure investment since 2017
The Cook Labor Government will provide $1.6 billion for new and improved infrastructure for public schools over the next four years to give Western Australian students contemporary facilities to learn in and cater for increased enrolments in Perth’s growing suburbs.
Premier Roger Cook and Education Minister Dr Tony Buti today announced the new investment at Piara Waters Senior High School, confirming $73.2 million in funding will be provided as part of the 2024-25 State Budget to deliver the second stage of works at the school.
To accommodate growing enrolments at Piara Waters Senior High School, which was officially opened last year, the upgrades will more than double its current student capacity to 1,650 and provide specialist facilities to support a full senior secondary curriculum for the inaugural Year 11 cohort for 2027. There will also be accommodation for 80 students within the education support program.
The Budget also includes an increase of $28.4 million towards constructing two new primary schools in Wellard East and Wungong that are planned to open in 2026, bringing the total investment in these new schools to $90.8 million.
A further $88.4 million has been provided for construction of three new public primary schools in growing areas expected to open for the 2027 school year.
A $26.5 million double-storey block will be built at Caversham Primary School to replace long-term transportable classrooms, while a $21.8 million investment will enable the relocation of the Mount Hawthorn Education Support Centre (ESC) to Lake Monger Primary School.
A total of $15 million will be invested to fast-track planning for a new secondary school in the rapidly growing suburb of Brabham, while a further $2.4 million has been set aside to complete project definition plans for a number of schools, including Como Secondary College and Esperance Senior High School.
An additional $41.8 million in funding will go towards maintenance upgrades to improve existing public schools.
The State Government will also spend $79.6 million on new transportable buildings to enable flexible and timely expansion of capacity in public schools.
A $12 million investment will deliver an innovative two-storey modular classroom block for Highgate Primary School to accommodate 160 students, while planning for a new inner-city primary school proposed for East Perth is progressing.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
“My Government is committed to providing quality infrastructure for WA schools, and giving Western Australian students the best possible learning experiences.
“Our strong investment in infrastructure for WA schools continues, with students to benefit from $1.6 billion provided in the 2024-25 State Budget for new facilities and upgrades to older infrastructure.
“We are also delivering increased funding for new and expanded primary and secondary schools, to keep pace with school enrolments and support our growing suburbs.”
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
“I’m excited to announce funding for the planning and delivery of purpose-built contemporary facilities to enable the delivery of public education across WA.
“We want to ensure that staff and students are teaching and learning in the best possible facilities across the State.
“It will be fantastic to see older infrastructure upgraded and schools expanded to cater for increasing enrolments in Perth’s new and growing suburbs.”
