The Territory Labor Government has delivered the second stage of the Zuccoli Primary School for the commencement of term 1 today.
In a first for the Northern Territory, the development sees both the Government school and neighbouring Catholic school benefit from the state-of-the-art facilities via a shared services model.
Students from Zuccoli and Mother Teresa Primary Schools will have joint access to the sports oval, multi-purpose hall, science, home economics and music learning spaces.
The Territory Labor Government fast-tracked Stage 2 of the school by two years to support the significant residential growth in the Palmerston region.
Stage 2 includes:
Shared facilities (science, home economics, kitchen garden, canteen, music, multi-purpose hall and Outside School Hours Care Centre);
A new shared sports oval;
A library building with student support spaces; and
An additional eight classrooms.
Celebrating the beginning of its second year of operation, Zuccoli Primary School has increased its enrolments by 125 students, from 204 in 2020 to 329 in 2021. Numbers expected to continue to grow with the new facilities and learning opportunities online from the completion of Stage 2 of the school.
Across both stages of construction over 100 jobs were supported across two local businesses. Catholic Education NT and the Department of Education are building a governance framework for the management of the shared infrastructure and resources.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education, Lauren Moss:
"This time last year stage 1 of construction at Zuccoli Primary School was complete in time for the commencement of the school year and today the Territory Labor Government is delivering on the second stage, fast-tracked by two years for the start of the 2021 school year.
"Palmerston continues to be the fastest growing region of the Northern Territory as it was when this project commenced. The community needed a new school and the Labor government has delivered it after the CLP failed to do so.
"The $30 million investment creates contemporary learning spaces to ensure that young Territorians are engaged and receive the best start towards a bright future while creating wider community benefit."'
