'Demand map' will dictate location of new PPP schools
THE Queensland Government plans to contract private companies to build 10 new state schools and avoid the $400 million price tag.
The schools - eight Prep to Grade 6 primary schools and two 7-12 secondary schools - will be built in rapidly developing areas in south-east Queensland such as Brisbane, Gold Coast and Ipswich.
The private sector will design, construct, commission, finance, maintain and provide management services for the schools.
Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the previous government had delivered seven schools through PPPs and "a demand map" would dictate where the next ones would be built.
He said Queensland would need 100 schools over 10 years at the current rate and there must be better outcomes for government and private entities.
"This is another version of us being able to build schools that we need to throughout the state," he said.
"We need to look at alternative models to the traditional one of the state just providing up to $40 million to build a school in an area that needs it.
"We were left with a large maintenance backlog; that sucks up a lot of the capital we would usually use to build schools.
"Parents, teachers and students (will be) unaware of any difference in the way education is delivered."
This plan extends to 2019 and will involve greenfield sites the government owns.
Registrations of interest will close on March 14 this year and then a shortlist for tender by mid-2013.
