The Adelaide Botanic High School expansion is at risk of grinding to a halt if the Adelaide City Council does not adhere to its commitment to the State Government.
The Education Minister is calling on council to agree to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), as it has committed to for the past six months, through various negotiations, to ensure there are no more delays in the project.
These delays are in stark contrast to the positive negotiations the Minister and Department have had with Council.
The MOU has already been signed by the State Government which will trigger the process of issuing of a construction license to the Department for Education to begin work.
Once the MOU has been approved by Council, and the construction license issued, it will pave the way for the $97 million high school expansion project, which will provide for a further 700 students at the inner-city school to meet growing demand.
The State Government has been ready to proceed on this expansion project for a number of months, with Cox Architecture successful in winning the tender for the design of the new wing of the school. This will be constructed on the southern side of the existing buildings.
Cox Architecture was responsible for the initial design of the school – winning state and national awards – working with the structural frame of the existing 1960s Reid Building but transforming both interior spaces and exterior facades.
Concept drawings for the extension of Adelaide Botanic High School have also been released.
This design features seven levels over a 1800sqm footprint. It will provide a covered sport area on the rooftop plus link bridges on every floor connecting to the current structure.
Quotes attributable to Blair Boyer
The Malinauskas Labor Government is a government that stands by its election commitments and the Adelaide City Council needs to stop these delays and progress this commitment.
It is due to completed by the beginning of the 2024 school year, to allow for the expansion of the school to accommodate those suburbs cut by the previous Liberal Government in 2019.
Negotiations with Adelaide City Council commenced under the previous government in February this year and there has been real progress until this point: but the inaction of Adelaide City Council is putting the project at risk.
The State Government has put to Council an MOU that commits the State Government to returning a larger area of land to the Adelaide City Council in order to ensure there is no net loss of usable, open space.
This project is an opportunity for Council to show support for the provision of public education facilities of the highest standard, within the CBD.
This new education infrastructure will deliver enduring benefits to the local community, making our city a more attractive place of residence for South Australian families.
Quote attributable to Cox Architecture director Zoe King
The new learning facilities will further enhance the innovative and contemporary program of the school, and we look forward to working with the staff and students during our design process.