Esslemont Cockram has won a $28 million contract to build new facilities at Willetton Senior High School, the largest of six construction contracts for education and training centres awarded recently by the state government.
The six contracts have been awarded to the following companies: Esslemont Cockram $28.2m; BADGE Constructions WA $8.6m; Firm Construction $9m; Universal Constructions $5.7m; Pindan Contracting $4m; and PS Chester & Son $2.9m
Esslemont Cockram won the contract to redevelop and add year 7 facilities and a science block to Willetton Senior High School, one of Western Australia's largest public schools.
Esslemont Cockram state manager Greg Mithen said the company was currently constructing and refurbishing a number of education centres after winning a $40 million contract for Applecross Senior High School, an $18 million contract for Rockingham Tafe and a $12 million contract for Hammond Park Primary School.
In August, the Department of Education said the estimated total budget for stage one of redeveloping Willetton was $42.9 million.
This followed the government announcing during the state election campaign that it would give $96 million over two stages to redevelop the school, causing opposition leader Mark McGowan to protest when the state budget allocated only $80 million.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said the discrepancy was due to the budget period only extending four years, meaning it could not provide a total project estimate for the nine-year long project.
BADGE Constructions won the $8.66 million tender to build a performing arts centre at Northam Senior High School.
Firm Construction won the $9 million contract to add year 7 facilities and an administration block to Duncraig Senior High School.
Last year, the state government said 29 schools would receive new or upgraded facilities to integrate year 7 students into public secondary schools from 2015.
Universal Constructions was chosen as the builder for a $5.76 million contract for year 7 facilities at Comet Bay College.
Pindan Contracting won the $4 million tender to refurbish Hedland Senior High School, which is the third stage of works for the school.
PS Chester & Son won the $2.9 million tender to construct the Morawa trade training centre, which includes modifying existing workshops and creating new workshops at Morawa Agricultural College.
