The Finocchiaro CLP Government has announced $9.5 million of infrastructure upgrades and future growth planning for Driver and Rosebery Secondary Schools in the 2026/27 budget.As part of the CLP Government's Secondary reforms, the funding will upgrade Driver Secondary School's Science rooms, create more Science labs at Rosebery Secondary School, and plan for future growth at Rosebery Secondary School.Suburbs adjacent to Rosebery Secondary School are growing, and with expected future land releases in Zuccoli and Mitchell Creek Green, the CLP Government is aware of the need to promote confidence in the school community that there is a plan to support future enrolment growth.
The Finocchiaro CLP Government has today announced $9.5 million in infrastructure upgrades and future growth planning for Driver and Rosebery Secondary Schools as part of the 2026/27 budget.
To cater for future growth in Palmerston and to manage increased capacity, $8 million will be spent to upgrade Driver Secondary School's Science rooms, $500,000 will be spent on converting home economics classrooms into Science labs at Rosebery Secondary School, and $1 million will be invested to plan and design for future growth at Rosebery Secondary School.
Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey, said the CLP Government was proactively working to make schools fit-for-purpose with the facilities to deliver skills and training for future employment.
"With upgraded Science blocks at Rosebery and Driver Secondary School, students will see a real future from their science room to a future job as a Geologist in the Beetaloo, or working on advanced technologies and materials science in the Defence Force," Mrs Hersey said.
"As a government we want to raise school attendance and create pathways to meaningful employment.
"We know students can't be what they can't see, and with improved facilities we can provide more opportunities for our students."
Under the CLP Government's Secondary school reforms, $1.6 million has been spent on upgrading VET facilities and classrooms at new comprehensive high schools, with another $1.4 million budgeted for the remainder of the year.
Suburbs adjacent to Rosebery Secondary School are growing, and with expected future land releases in Zuccoli and Mitchell Creek Green, the CLP Government is aware of the need to promote confidence in the school community that there is a plan to support future enrolment growth.
As Rosebery Secondary School was originally built as a Middle School (for years 7-9), the school lacks adequate specialist facilities required to deliver programs for students in years 10-12.
"Planning for future growth at Rosebery Secondary School will engage students, families, teachers and the broader community to ensure the school can support expected population growth and deliver the curriculum requirements for High school students," Mrs Hersey added.
"We know we need to accommodate for future growth at Rosebery Secondary School and we're not waiting until our schools are bursting at the seams to act."
