Coen educational facilities are due to be upgraded. Images: Department of Education.
Cape York residents have been urged to provide feedback on proposed major upgrades to educational facilities in towns across the peninsula, including classrooms, sports grounds, play spaces and entirely new buildings.
The Department of Education is seeking community submissions on work earmarked for Coen Kindergarten and Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (Coen campus), Wujal Wujal Community Kindergarten and Bloomfield River State School.
Major changes are also proposed for Pormpuraaw State School and Kowanyama State School.
The department has been working with Cape communities for about a year to develop draft master plans and identify school additions, as well as much-needed refurbishments and maintenance.
Coen projects include upgraded classrooms and modern learning spaces, new cultural learning hubs and dedicated outdoor learning areas.
Play spaces are due to be upgraded and there would be accessibility improvements, alongside upgraded parking and student drop-off/pick-up facilities.
Improvements to Wujal Wujal Community Kindergarten could include a new entryway and stairs, expansions to provide extra shelter and a new access point, a new staff room, and storage shed and the installation of a rock garden and shaded seating space.
Other additions include a dedicated waiting area for parents and community members, a playground, carpark and vegetable garden.
Improvements to Bloomfield River State School would see “a massive footprint reconfiguration”, according to the department.
A master plan will outline future work at Coen Kindergarten and Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (Coen campus).
Blocks B, C, D, and the old oval amenities building would be demolished to create space.
Potential additions include an extra floor on the existing administration block, new classrooms with verandas, a tuckshop and lunch area, new amenities block and a covered walkway, as well as oval upgrades.
The co-designed master plan for Pormpuraaw State School includes a tuckshop refurbishment, new administration block and senior learning space, bush tucker community garden, running track and courts, and a new yarning meeting area.
Work flagged for Kowanyama State School includes a new administration, community space and bus shelter, bushtucker and greenhouse area, new yarning circle and running track.
All proposed projects are subject to future planning and consideration.
Check out the department’s website to provide feedback on the educational facility projects.
A new administration community space and bus shelter is just one upgrade planned for Kowanyama State School. Image: Department of Education.
