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26 March 2025
26 March 2025
The latest advice from the Education Directorate is that broader Community Consultation is planned for sometime in Term 2 of this year (link).
No further details have been provided at this stage, although we have asked the Minister for a more detailed consultation plan. This request was also reiterated by the Green’s MLA, Shane Rattenbury, at our request at a recent ACT Government Annual Report hearing (link, time stamp of discussion approx. 1:48:00).
Alanna King and Kara Youngentob also gave a presentation at the Downer Community Hall in March on key learnings from the FOI documents we received from the Education Directorate regarding the Modernisation and Expansion of Majura Primary School. A copy of the presentation can be found here (link).
25 August 2024
25 August 2024
Members of the Majura Primary School Board, P&C Committee, Liz Bobos, and Jacob Bindley met with ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry and representatives from the Education Directorate on 21/08/2024 to discuss the school's modernisation and expansion.
Members of the Majura Primary School Board, P&C Committee, Liz Bobos, and Jacob Bindley met with ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry and representatives from the Education Directorate on 21/08/2024 to discuss the school's modernisation and expansion.
Below is a summary of key points discussed during the meeting:
Below is a summary of key points discussed during the meeting:
Information Gaps and Apologies: The Minister acknowledged the lack of community engagement and apologized for the information gaps. She emphasized that this meeting was a starting point for future discussions. The tender process has been paused to allow more time for master planning and a broader community engagement process, which may need to begin after the election due to the caretaker period.
Information Gaps and Apologies: The Minister acknowledged the lack of community engagement and apologized for the information gaps. She emphasized that this meeting was a starting point for future discussions. The tender process has been paused to allow more time for master planning and a broader community engagement process, which may need to begin after the election due to the caretaker period.
Current Plans and Constraints: The Education Directorate acknowledged the constraints of the site and the challenges in meeting the EDIS (Education Directorate Infrastructure Standards). Site constraints included a small school site, trees of significant value, easements, existing buildings and not impacting the Kitchen Garden or Naturescapes based on earlier feedback provided by the P&C in 2022.
Current Plans and Constraints: The Education Directorate acknowledged the constraints of the site and the challenges in meeting the EDIS (Education Directorate Infrastructure Standards). Site constraints included a small school site, trees of significant value, easements, existing buildings and not impacting the Kitchen Garden or Naturescapes based on earlier feedback provided by the P&C in 2022.
The designs are indicative and subject to change. The plans are not to scale, and exact specifications will be finalized after a builder is engaged. The proposed new library, while appearing small on the plans provided, will be larger than the current one. There are more detailed specifications for the two-story learning community, which were provided when the plans were presented to the community on 31/07/2024.
The designs are indicative and subject to change. The plans are not to scale, and exact specifications will be finalized after a builder is engaged. The proposed new library, while appearing small on the plans provided, will be larger than the current one. There are more detailed specifications for the two-story learning community, which were provided when the plans were presented to the community on 31/07/2024.
The ED said that the current plan could accommodate up to 300 more students but additional enrolments “wouldn’t happen all at once.” Growth in Canberra was slowing. The school may never reach those numbers, but they needed to plan for 1200 (stated current capacity is 900 - though clarity was unavailable on whether that includes the preschool). Existing demountable classrooms might remain, and the decision to remove them could happen later depending on enrolments.
The ED said that the current plan could accommodate up to 300 more students but additional enrolments “wouldn’t happen all at once.” Growth in Canberra was slowing. The school may never reach those numbers, but they needed to plan for 1200 (stated current capacity is 900 - though clarity was unavailable on whether that includes the preschool). Existing demountable classrooms might remain, and the decision to remove them could happen later depending on enrolments.
The new learning community (new two-story building), which would provide additional classrooms and learning spaces for up to 300 more students, were discussed by the ED in some detail. They are designed as flexible spaces for a variety of uses. They have movable partitions to allow rooms to grow or contract depending on needs and purpose.
The new learning community (new two-story building), which would provide additional classrooms and learning spaces for up to 300 more students, were discussed by the ED in some detail. They are designed as flexible spaces for a variety of uses. They have movable partitions to allow rooms to grow or contract depending on needs and purpose.
The extent of refurbishment of the existing buildings will depend on what is found during construction, such as hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos), which could increase costs and affect what was possible within the budget. More detail could not be provided yet.
The extent of refurbishment of the existing buildings will depend on what is found during construction, such as hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos), which could increase costs and affect what was possible within the budget. More detail could not be provided yet.
Master Planning Process: The Directorate plans to undertake a master planning process to better align the school's facilities with the EDIS in the future. The Directorate noted that many schools, including ours, do not meet the EDIS and these standards were made for new schools.
Master Planning Process: The Directorate plans to undertake a master planning process to better align the school's facilities with the EDIS in the future. The Directorate noted that many schools, including ours, do not meet the EDIS and these standards were made for new schools.
The ED will go through a DA process for works on site. They expressed a commitment to engaging the community in this process and would listen to what the community felt were their priorities for the school. The ED could provide Master Plans that would include the additional facilities that the school needed, such as a school hall/gym, although they are unlikely to happen in this round of expansion.
The ED will go through a DA process for works on site. They expressed a commitment to engaging the community in this process and would listen to what the community felt were their priorities for the school. The ED could provide Master Plans that would include the additional facilities that the school needed, such as a school hall/gym, although they are unlikely to happen in this round of expansion.
The ED showed an earlier version of the plans where the hall/gym was located adjacent to the school oval, between the kindergarten wing and the proposed replacement hardcourt near the Scout Hall. They explained that the hardcourt could be built soon after purchasing the land, but the hall/gym would require a change of land-use/zoning. It is a potential inclusion for future expansions. No other options for the location of the hall/gym were presented.
The ED showed an earlier version of the plans where the hall/gym was located adjacent to the school oval, between the kindergarten wing and the proposed replacement hardcourt near the Scout Hall. They explained that the hardcourt could be built soon after purchasing the land, but the hall/gym would require a change of land-use/zoning. It is a potential inclusion for future expansions. No other options for the location of the hall/gym were presented.
Community Concerns: Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the proposed plans, particularly the lack of a new gym/hall, the extent of refurbishments and repurposing of existing spaces, and the feasibility of accommodating additional students. The school's current site seemed insufficient for its projected size, and expanding without addressing these fundamental issues would only exacerbate existing challenges. The promise to improve engagement and involve the wider community was an important step forward, but more work was needed and more options should be considered.
Community Concerns: Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the proposed plans, particularly the lack of a new gym/hall, the extent of refurbishments and repurposing of existing spaces, and the feasibility of accommodating additional students. The school's current site seemed insufficient for its projected size, and expanding without addressing these fundamental issues would only exacerbate existing challenges. The promise to improve engagement and involve the wider community was an important step forward, but more work was needed and more options should be considered.
A common view was that Majura Primary School should not be the only solution for growth in this area. The small site and its constraints meant the school may never be able to meet the needs of 1,200 students. The largest EDIS specifications only go up to 975 enrolments. Currently, Majura Primary School, with 820 enrollments (710 in the primary school and 88 in the preschool), falls far short of EDIS standards even for the smallest listed school size of 575.
A common view was that Majura Primary School should not be the only solution for growth in this area. The small site and its constraints meant the school may never be able to meet the needs of 1,200 students. The largest EDIS specifications only go up to 975 enrolments. Currently, Majura Primary School, with 820 enrollments (710 in the primary school and 88 in the preschool), falls far short of EDIS standards even for the smallest listed school size of 575.
A Space Audit, prepared by Alanna King, was provided to the Minister ahead of the meeting. It outlined the gaps between where Majura Primary School is now and in the proposed plans, and where it should be in terms of classroom spaces, speciality learning areas, teacher/staff meeting rooms and offices, bathrooms, hall/gym, outdoor and play areas. The community questioned why our children should get so much less.
A Space Audit, prepared by Alanna King, was provided to the Minister ahead of the meeting. It outlined the gaps between where Majura Primary School is now and in the proposed plans, and where it should be in terms of classroom spaces, speciality learning areas, teacher/staff meeting rooms and offices, bathrooms, hall/gym, outdoor and play areas. The community questioned why our children should get so much less.
It was noted that this process of modernisation and expansion began with concerned parents who responded to an ACT Government inquiry into the management of ACT school infrastructure in 2021. The school was not adequate for the number of students that it had then and funding was sought to help bring it up to standard. Now, even more students are planned for Majura Primary School without adequately addressing the aging infrastructure and need for considerable expansion of facilities to support the students and teachers at the size Majura Primary is now, let alone for a school of up to 1200 students.
It was noted that this process of modernisation and expansion began with concerned parents who responded to an ACT Government inquiry into the management of ACT school infrastructure in 2021. The school was not adequate for the number of students that it had then and funding was sought to help bring it up to standard. Now, even more students are planned for Majura Primary School without adequately addressing the aging infrastructure and need for considerable expansion of facilities to support the students and teachers at the size Majura Primary is now, let alone for a school of up to 1200 students.
The Majura Primary P&C Committee are working on our response and the next steps. If you are interested in joining our ongoing discussions and sharing your thoughts, please connect to our Modernisation and Expansion What’sApp group or send us an email.
The Majura Primary P&C Committee are working on our response and the next steps. If you are interested in joining our ongoing discussions and sharing your thoughts, please connect to our Modernisation and Expansion What’sApp group or send us an email.
11 August 2024
11 August 2024
It’s been a busy week and a half since the Education Directorate presented their plans for the Majura Primary School Expansion and Modernisation. Our community has been hard at work advocating for a better outcome for our school.
Following the presentation by the ED, the P&C Committee met and made available online materials outlining our concerns and position. We also wrote a letter to Education Minister Yvette Berry (link to letter here). Our P&C Convenor, Rachael, spoke with ABC Local Radio (666) after a call from a P&C member to the Chief Minister Talkback show (link here). Our story also featured in The Canberra Times (link here).
We reached out to the Watson Community Association, Downer Community Association and Hackett Community Association. Thank you, Nina, for attending the DCA meeting last Monday. There is a WCA meeting this Tuesday at 7:30 PM (76 Federal Highway Watson, entrance on Zelling—once on driveway, follow the signs). Please come if you can (more information here).
Representatives of the P&C Committee have also met with several MLAs and candidates for the upcoming elections including Labour MLA Rachel Stephen-Smith (link to her reply here), Labour candidate Martin Greenwood, and Greens MLAs Shane Rattenbury, Rebecca Vassarotti, Laura Nuttall, and staffer Jordan Rocke. Rebecca Vassarotti followed up with a letter to the Education Minister (link here). We also plan to meet this week with Independent candidate, Thomas Emerson and Liberal MLA Elizabeth Lee.
Parents and community members have individually written, or spoken directly, to the ED, the media, MLAs and other candidates for the upcoming elections. The P&C Committee has also had lots of leads and other connections sent our way by the community. This has been enormously helpful, thank you. We encourage everyone to reach out in this way.
In response to our action, Education Minister, Yvette Berry, has agreed to pause the tender process until more community engagement can take place. Rachael and Kara will meet with Minister Berry this week to discuss community concerns, and hopefully lock in a date for further community engagement with the Education Directorate very soon. We will update you about this as soon as we have more information.
We are being heard and we have the Government’s attention, but we have more work to do and we won’t rest until we have the outcome our school needs and our children deserve. Thank you everyone who has contributed so far! This is a group effort and there is power in our collective actions. Let’s keep it up. Please check out this link for information on how you can help, and join the Modernisation and Expansion What’sApp group to contribute to the conversation and keep up to date on communications (link here).
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