Further funding for Fregon Anangu School upgrade
An additional 12.2 million has been committed to a redevelopment project for Fregon Anangu School on the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, bringing the total budget for the work to $33.2 million.
The additional funding was announced by the State Government for the major upgrade of Fregon Anangu School, 1400km north-west of Adelaide in Kaltjiti (formerly Fregon).
The project was first announced in October 2017, with $15.7 million budgeted as part of the Department for Education’s Capital Works program.
Delays, including issues caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic, have impacted the development with it proceeding to tender in June last year. Tenders exceeded the estimates for the work, with a range of complexities involved including the remoteness of the location, challenging logistics, and trade costs increasing.
Following the additional commitment of funds, the project to redevelop the B-12 school, which has 74 children enrolled this year, has now appointed Sarah Constructions as the builder and is undertaking further designing of the project.
The major works, which should begin later this year, will see new flexible learning spaces and facilities built that will support staff and students in a modern learning environment. In addition to several new buildings for junior, primary and secondary teaching and learning, the school will get new food technology and administration facilities.
Ageing accommodation on the site will be demolished, with the project also improving the school’s connectivity to the community.
The school, which was the first school on the APY Lands to host a Prime Minister in 2016, will also have a new covered outdoor learning area (COLA) constructed with external works and landscaping.
Fregon Anangu School Principal Sara Porzio said, with the school being an important hub within this remote community, we are very excited to see this major project get underway.
“The construction of new facilities and the refurbishment of others over the next year or so will ensure both our staff and students have access to modern teaching and learning opportunities”.
