Hinchinbrook MP, Andrew Cripps has called on the Palaszczuk Government to bring forward two school projects on Townsville’s Northern Beaches to help create jobs in the wake of hundreds of redundancies and voluntary administration at the Yabulu Nickel Refinery.

Mr Cripps said the modernisation of facilities at Bluewater State School and bringing forward the planned construction of a new state school at North Shore were worthy projects that would boost construction jobs and benefit the community on Townsville’s Northern Beaches.

“Bluewater State School has been growing rapidly in recent years and is now well over 400 students, but its facilities are in need of modernisation and if the Palaszczuk Government is looking to accelerate public projects, this would be a very good one” said Mr Cripps.

“Bluewater State School needs new permanent classrooms to replace existing temporary and demountable buildings, a new school hall to help with the growing demand for after school care and a new administration block to replace the current one, which dates from 1962” he said.

Mr Cripps said after a five year campaign to secure a commitment for a new school for Townsville’s Northern Beaches, he was very pleased with the outcome from last year’s state budget allocation for a new school to open at North Shore for the start of the 2018 school year.

“Allocations are in the state budget to acquire the land and build the new school at North Shore – other public projects are being brought forward in the wake of the situation at the Yabulu Nickel Refinery – this project should also be immediately considered for acceleration”.

“Both Bohlevale State School and Bluewater State School currently operate under enrolment management plans, so there is no doubt that there is a real need for investment in education infrastructure servicing communities on Townsville’s Northern Beaches”.

Mr Cripps said he had written to the Premier and the Education Minister about the proposal to modernise Bluewater State School and bring forward the new school at North Shore, as the Queensland Government looked to create jobs in the Townsville region.