Site for western suburbs high school secured

The state government has locked down a site for a new public secondary school in Perth’s western suburbs which will open its doors in 2020.

Education Minister Peter Collier announced today that an agreement had been reached for the new school to be located at the former City Beach High School site, while the two existing tenant schools will be relocated.

Parts of the original school will be kept, while $60 million has been allocated for refurbishments to accommodate 250 year seven students when doors open in 2020, which forms the first stage of the development works.

Up to 1,600 students in years seven-12 will occupy the school by 2025 when all work is completed.

The International School of Western Australia currently occupies the site along with The Japanese School, and has agreed to relocate to Doubleview Primary School in 2019, which will undergo a $15.4 million reconstruction.

The Japanese School will relocate to refurbished buildings at the City Beach Primary School site.

Business News reported last year that four sites had been shortlisted for the new school, with the state government earmarking the former City Beach high school site as its most-wanted location.

Mr Collier said about $18.8 million would also be spent on expansions to Carine Senior High School to cater for an extra 300 students, on top of $88 million already committed to expansions at Shenton College and Churchlands Senior High School.

“The need for a new western suburbs secondary school has been at the forefront of my mind, and I am incredibly pleased to be announcing this flagship school today,” he said.

“The quality of public education is proven by the demand for places in Perth’s western suburbs.

“Today’s announcement will ensure we live up to expectations.”

Planning for the new school follows rapid growth in enrolments and the closure of four older high schools in the area in the 1990s.

The opposition has previously slammed the state government for not planning for the new school sooner, as other schools in the western suburbs have struggled to cater for massive enrolment growth over the past five years.

Mr Collier also said there was upcoming news regarding Mount Lawley and Balcatta senior high schools in the near future.

New intake areas will be announced next year.