The following residents of the ACT draw to the attention of the Assembly:
The Lyneham Primary P&C is concerned by our school building condition. It is over 60 years old and desperately needs work. It needs a building condition report to identify and address all risks and hazards. Past issues included windows and doors with drafts; lead paint; asbestos; old and ripped carpets; cracked walls; flammable cladding; and unhygienic bathrooms that no amount of cleaning can fix. Short term adhoc work has addressed some of the most urgent issues but many remain.
The ACT Government partially completed a building report in 2013 however it was stalled and eventually discontinued. The report has never been finished, despite many approaches to the Minister and Department. On current Departmental capacity calculations, increasing enrolments has seen specialist teaching rooms converted to classrooms. In 2021 the French room was converted in this way. These calculations could see other specialist spaces like the library and multi-function rooms converted to classrooms. This would lead to a major loss of learning opportunities.
Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call upon the Government to:
1. Immediately conduct and complete a building condition report of Lyneham Primary School, to identify areas of high risk and undertake a risk-based program of maintenance.
2. Accept and implement the recommendations in the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Education and Community Inclusion Report - Managing ACT School Infrastructure, May 2022.
3. Remove all library and specialist teaching facilities from school capacity calculations.