The Nationals WA have pledged $45 million to complete a long-overdue redevelopment of Margaret River Senior High School if returned to Government in 2025.
Candidate for Warren-Blackwood, Bevan Eatts, announced the funding this week following meetings with school board representatives and community stakeholders.
“With an original capacity of about 700 students, the school now caters for almost 1,200 students and is rapidly growing, leading to overcrowding, placing pressure on staff and facilities, and putting educational outcomes at risk,” Mr Eatts said.
“Parents, teachers, students, and the wider Margaret River community are frustrated by constant excuses and a lack of action from the Minister for Education and their local Labor MP who have refused to prioritise this much-needed expansion.
“If returned to Government in 2025, The Nationals WA will ensure this project is fully funded and back on track in our very first budget, with an initial commitment of $45 million.”
Mr Eatts said the funding would deliver additional permanent classrooms, a new resource library, expanded cafeteria, performing arts space, and specialist learning areas for design, technology and enterprise.
In 2016, the former Liberal-National Government committed $30 million for Stage One of the expansion, which saw 16 new classrooms and five specialist science areas opened in 2020.
“Since then, the school has repeatedly sought funding to deliver Stage Two of the expansion, which is desperately needed as the school’s population continues to grow and is forecast to reach 2,000 enrolments in the next five years,” Mr Eatts said.
“While Labor upgraded the sports oval in 2022, no further commitment has been made towards Stage Two, despite plans being completed and approved by the Department of Education seven years ago.”
Mr Eatts said the school was already stretched to capacity, and any delay in expanding risked hindering opportunities for young people in the region.
“The teachers and staff at Margaret River Senior High School are second-to-none, helping students to consistently achieve high success rates,” Mr Eatts said.
“But the full school’s full potential is being held back due to crowded and substandard facilities.”
Shadow Education Minister Peter Rundle MLA said many students were learning in transportable classrooms spread across the school, while other activities were being held off-site in local government facilities.
“I understand teachers have sacrificed their staffroom to be used as an additional classroom, safety concerns have been raised around woodwork and metalwork facilities, and the school board feel the situation is putting academic achievement at risk,” Mr Rundle said.
A recent letter from the Education Minister to the school board stated any further expansion would need to be ‘carefully considered alongside other competing priorities.’
“This Government recently funded a $180 million cycling bridge in the Perth CBD. It is outrageous they won’t invest a fraction of that funding to ensure regional students have access to high-quality and fit-forpurpose education facilities,” Mr Rundle said.
Legislative Council candidate and Margaret River local Julie Kirby also expressed frustration at the situation.
“As a member of the local community I understand that parents and teachers are fed up with the lack of commitment from this Government,” Ms Kirby said.
“The Minister for Education has been invited to visit the facility himself and see just how substandard the facilities are, but he has refused to do so.
“It’s not good enough, especially from a Government which is sitting on a $2.6 billion budget surplus, while regional education facilities are ignored.”
