We could build two schools for what it costs for Education Central

Rush to put Perth Modern school in Northbridge ‘not viable’

Bethany Hiatt, The West Australia, May 6th, 2017

Rushing to build a high-rise public school in the city would be an irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money on a project that may not be financially viable, a chartered professional engineer has warned the State Government.

Helen Pedersen, an engineer with more than 20 years experience and a past president of Engineers Australia WA Division, said her analysis of the Government’s preliminary plan for the multi-storey school rang alarm bells.

“The project could cost double what an equivalent school would cost, has less than a third of the open space of an equivalent school and holds very, very high commercial risk.”

Ms Pedersen, who has a daughter at Perth Modern School, said the cost to build a new school in a built-up area was around $2000 per square metre, but Education Central was likely to cost more than $4000/sqm.

“The State could build two schools for what it will spend on Education Central,” she said.