The Territory Labor Government has directly supported more than one thousand local jobs since coming to government with a suite of major education construction projects.
Projects in Darwin, Palmerston, the rural area, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs have enabled local builders to employ hundreds of workers, while constructing transformative buildings that will serve Territory children for many years to come.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Member for Port Darwin Paul Kirby today toured the construction site of the Darwin Middle School Multipurpose Hall, where construction is due to be completed later this year.
Major education construction projects undertaken by Territory companies since 2016 include:
New Government School in Zuccoli
The $29 million new government school in Zuccoli is supporting nearly 300 local jobs over its two stage construction.
Construction on Stage 1 of Zuccoli Primary School is underway and is on track to welcome students from Term 1, 2020.
Tenders for the design and construction of Stage 2 have been received and are currently being assessed.
The school is scheduled to be fully operational by Term 1, 2021.
Darwin High School STEAM Centre
Construction is almost finished on the $15.9 million, state-of-the-art Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Centre at Darwin High School.
Sunbuild Pty Ltd won the tender in June 2018 and has employed around 300 local workers on the project.
The centre is scheduled to be operational by the end of the 2019 school year.
Darwin Middle School Multipurpose Hall
Sunbuild Pty Ltd also won the $10.3 million contract for neighbouring Darwin Middle School’s multipurpose hall, which will support sports, music, arts, drama and provide indoor space for school assemblies and events.
Construction is due to be completed by the end of the 2019 school year, and is supporting around 85 local jobs during construction, including 31 Aboriginal workers and one Aboriginal apprentice.
Ludmilla Primary School
The $7.4 million redevelopment of Ludmilla Primary School was undertaken by local company PTM Group and officially opened in May 2019.
The redevelopment delivered a vibrant new Early Learning Centre, which caters for up to 44 preschool children and provides an integrated area for a supported play group, a FaFT and other services.
The project supported around 150 local jobs.
Taminmin College STEAM Centre
Probuild NT employed nearly 350 workers, including 46 Aboriginal employees, in construction of the the rural area’s $12.7 million, purpose-built Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEAM) Centre
The centre includes six classrooms and six science laboratories, with capacity for 1500 students.
It officially opened in February, 2018.
Acacia Hill School
Alice Springs’ Scope Building NT won the $6.7 million tender to upgrade Acacia Hill School.
The works upgraded specialised facilities and built new classrooms, enabling more students with special needs to receive high quality education in contemporary learning environments.
Stage one of the project was completed on 5 December 2018 and Stage two is entering its final stages of completion.
This project supported 103 local jobs during construction, including 7 Aboriginal apprentices and 15 apprentices.
Braitling Primary School – new early childhood precinct
Probuild NT won the $3 million contract to create a new early years precinct at Braitling Primary School.
The works were completed in May 2019 and supported around 50 local jobs.
Tennant Creek Primary School Integrated Early Childhood and Family Centre
Probuild NT also won the $6.3 million construction tender for the new Integrated Early Childhood and Family Centre at Tennant Creek.
The new integrated learning centre includes two main components - a new pre-school and adjacent child and family centre.
The preschool caters for up to 110 children, integrated with facilities for an on-site Families as First Teachers (FaFT) Program, early intervention support meeting rooms, visiting specialist’s rooms, and amenities for food preparation
Construction was completed in April 2019 and supported around 40 local jobs during construction.
Quotes attributable to Chief minister Michael Gunner.
“The Territory Labor Government’s number one priority is creating jobs for Territorians.
“We came to Government with a plan to create jobs, invest in infrastructure and improve the lives of all Territorians. We are delivering on that plan.
“Investing in our schools is not only an investment in our economy and in our people, it is an investment in our future.
“We know that quality infrastructure underpins quality learning and the children in these schools will have state-of-the-art learning facilities for many years to come.
“The Territory Labor Government will always invest in education, because we know it is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do for the Territory’s future.”
Media contact: Cameron Angus 0404 021 192