MORE than $800 million in funding over the next four years will include the building of a second college in Gungahlin, to be located in Nicholls.

The new college – planned to open before the end of the decade – will have an initial capacity of 800 students, with room to expand in future to 1100 students if required.

The second college for Gungahlin will meet the need to increase college places in Canberra’s north to match projected enrolment growth.

Funding is also included in the 2023/24 Budget to modernise Telopea Park High School, which will also increase the school’s permanent capacity by 500 places and cater to enrolment growth in the inner south.

The ACT government will also fund roofing upgrades at Latham Primary, Gowrie Primary, Red Hill Primary and Telopea Park School, as well as infrastructure upgrades at Cranleigh School and Black Mountain School, “to ensure the continued delivery of high-quality specialist education services across the north of Canberra”.

They say there is also funding for feasibility, planning and design work for a new college in the Molonglo Valley, as well as modernisation projects for Fraser Primary School, North Ainslie Primary School and Forrest Primary School.

Education Minister Yvette Berry says she knows the new college in Gungahlin is being eagerly awaited by people in the city’s north, and she is pleased to be moving ahead with what will be Canberra’s 10^th public college.

“School communities all across Canberra will benefit from these announcements. As we celebrate 50 years of ACT public schools, we are continuing to build new schools and upgrade our existing ones to meet the challenges of the 21^st century.”