The ACT Government is committed to delivering quality public schools, and early childhood education to shape every child’s future and lay the foundation for lifelong development and learning.

To support this commitment, the ACT Government is continuing to expand and upgrade ACT public schools throughout 2023 and beyond. In 2019 the ACT Government released its ACT Infrastructure Plan, a multi-decade plan detailing over $14 billion worth of infrastructure investments across Canberra. It focusses on priorities that include education with the construction of new schools and the expansion of some existing schools in our suburbs experiencing population growth.

During the 2020 ACT election, the ACT Government announced a priority to build a new Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) to Year 6 school in the new suburb of Strathnairn, (which is the first suburb in the Ginninderry development) in time for the 2025 school year. The new school will have a capacity for 780 students from preschool to year 6 and the ECEC would offer 130 places. The new school will be constructed on the site directly adjacent to Pro Hart Avenue and adjacent to the “Link Building”. The proposed location of the new school will provide opportunities for connections to other community services.

This purpose-built P-6 school with an Early Childhood Education and Care will be the first ECEC – Year 6 school to meet the population growth within Ginninderry and surrounding West Belconnen region. The number of Canberra public school students continues to grow by about 3% each year, with Canberra continuing to be one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. The new school in Strathnairn will respond to initial primary school enrolment demand in the area and provide public school students and teachers with contemporary and modern learning/teaching facilities.

The ACT Government is proud to deliver this project as the Pilot Project to support the Second Action Plan 2020-2022 under the ACT Women’s Plan 2016-26. Objective 2, Action 2.6 of the Second Action Plan 2020-22 commits to identify a pilot project to deliver a major ACT capital works project with a 100% female site management team and female participation in each trade subcontractor undertaking work on the project.

In further support of social procurement objectives, the project would also encourage and promote Indigenous participation in recognition of the cultural significance of the site and its context within Ginninderry community, ensure Ecological Sustainable development, promote Local Industry Participation, ethical engagement that seeks the elimination of modern slavery and ensuring the employment of culturally and linguistically diverse persons, disadvantaged persons, apprentices, cadets and graduates by the head contractor and subcontractors.

The Territory sought to engage with an exceptional industry partner ‘Icon SI (Aust) Pty Ltd’ to design and construct the works. Strathnairn ECEC-Year 6 School is an important social infrastructure initiative, and the Territory will partner with industry representatives who understand their commitment to these initiatives and who can realise excellence in design and sustainability results, while leading innovation and a safety culture through construction.

The Site

Block 7 Section 37 Strathnairn is currently a future urban area (FUA), however an Estate Development Plan (EDP) Development Application (DA) to subdivide the block into a community facility zoned block for a school, a public open space block incorporating a water quality control pond and the associated extension of McClymont Way to link up with Asimus Avenue, has now been approved by the Planning and Land Authority

The site is bounded by Pro Hart Avenue, McClymont Way and Asimus Avenue.

The Proposal

An ECEC- Year 6 ACT public school is being planned within the suburb of Strathnairn.

The school will cater for 130 places for Early Childhood Education and Care and 780 students from preschool to year 6 and associated staff.

School Site Inclusions

• Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) incorporating all statutory requirements, with integration with the Preschool Learning Community
• Primary School Learning Communities incorporating integrated learning
• Small Group Programs integrated into Primary School Learning Communities
• Teacher workspaces integrated into ECEC, Preschool and Primary School Learning Communities
• Facilities to support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics)
• Facilities to support Food Technology at a P – 6 level integrated within the STEAM facilities
• Facilities to support Music and Drama at a P – 6 level
• Facilities to support learning in Health and Physical Education provided in indoor (Gymnasium) and outdoor settings (kick about field, play equipment)
• Leadership, Administration, Psychologist, Multi-Faith room and Staff Lounge
• Library/ Interactive Learning Resource
• Outdoor learning areas and outdoor settings for performance/ play/ passive recreation and socialising areas for students and staff
• Furniture, Fittings and Equipment
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Infrastructure and Equipment
• Social and recreation areas for students and staff
• Canteen
• Student and staff amenities
• Bicycle parking and storage
• Suitable on-site car parking, which can also service community use, including by sports groups that access the school facilities outside school hours

All school facilities are to be designed to maximise community use. This extends to the design of school security fencing that will aim to protect building assets without limiting access to the key community facilities, so they can be readily utilised outside of school hours.

Statutory Planning

The proposed site will be zoned Community Facility (CF).

The objectives of the CF zone are:

a) To facilitate social sustainability and inclusion through providing accessible sites for key government and non-government facilities and services for individuals, families, and communities.

b) To provide accessible sites for civic life and allow community organisations to meet the needs of the Territory’s various forms of community.

c) To protect these social and community uses from competition from other uses.

d) To enable the efficient use of land through facilitating the co-location, and multi-use of community facilities, generally near public transport routes and convenience services appropriate to the use.

e) To encourage adaptable and affordable housing for persons in need of residential support or care.

 f) To safeguard the amenity of surrounding residential areas against unacceptable adverse impacts including from traffic, parking, noise or loss of privacy.

g) Promote active living and active travel

h) Provide safe pedestrian and cycling access to community facilities to promote active living.

Architectural and Landscape Plans

Plans are available for download via the below link. Please note that these plans are a work in progress and may be subject to minor changes throughout the design development stage.

Opportunities for Community Input / Feedback

Purdon will be undertaking community consultation on behalf of the Proponent, commencing Friday 13 October until Friday 27 October 2023.

The project team will be holding two drop-in information sessions at The Link – Ginninderry Community Information Centre (1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn) where you can view the plans and ask questions.

Sessions dates are as follows:

Session 1: Tuesday 17 October 2023 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Session 2: Saturday 21 October 2023 10:00am – 11:30am

Further Information

If you would like further information or wish to discuss the Proposal, please do not hesitate to contact Purdon on:

(02) 6257 1511

Or use the ‘have your say’ form below to provide comments.