THE Territory – and in particular the Barkly – did well out of Mr Rudd’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan with money allocated for building infrastructure and saving jobs.
The NT Government has been doing the hard yards to get this money rolling out and now our Operation Stimulus is beginning an education revolution here like no-one’s ever seen before.
The Henderson Labor Government has already put out 20 contracts for nearly $12 million for education projects in the Barkly. This program is being delivered by the Construction Division of our Department of Planning and Infrastructure and will deliver the construction of new iconic facilities such as libraries, multipurpose halls or classrooms, or to upgrade existing facilities.
The Tennant Creek High School is getting $1.97 million for a Sports Science Centre that will harness the energy and dreams of the youth of the Barkly.
Alekarenge Primary School gets $2 million for a Multi-purpose Facility; the Elliott Primary School $850,000 for a multi-purpose facility; Epenarra Primary School gets an $850,000 Covered Outdoor Learning Area; an $850,000 Multi-Purpose area and Library for Alpurrurulam Primary School; Canteen Creek Primary School has won new classrooms worth $850,000 and Neutral Junction Primary, Newcastle Waters Primary, Murray Downs (Imangara) and Rockhampton Downs (Wogayela) Schools each get a $250,000 Covered Outdoor Learning Area.
Tennant Creek Primary School a $2.5 million Multi-purpose Hall; Borroloola CEC $2 million worth of new classrooms; Kiana Primary School a $250,000 Resource Centre; and the Robinson River School gets $850,000 worth of new classrooms.
And then there’s the National School Pride program for minor capital works and maintenance projects being delivered directly by the individual School Councils and are aimed at local small scale contractors and suppliers.
Alekarenge gets $125,000 for multi-purpose hall-vinyl and painting; Borroloola CEC gets a security fence worth $125,000; Canteen Creek $750,000 for its Covered Outdoor Learning Centre; Elliott CEC $75,000 for carpeting; Epenarra School $75,000 for its Outdoor Learning Area and Kiana and Newcastle Waters Schools get $50,000 for fencing.
Murray Downs School will receive $50,000 for its Multi Purpose Area; $50,000 classroom upgrade for Neutral Junction School, Robinson River School $75,000 for fencing; Rockhampton Downs $50,000 to build a shaded rubber surface; Tennant Creek High $125,000 to revitalise the school; and Tennant Creek Primary $150,000 for securing the perimeter.
So what I’m saying is that all this money is building our future.
It’s looking after what our kids need and deserve.
The global financial crisis has impacted on the Territory and Australia yet when times are tough, governments have to lead the way by creating jobs and laying the groundwork for the future and I’m proud to be a member of Government which sees our schools rebuilt and upgraded, our roads improved and our most vulnerable Territorians looked after.