Renmark will be home to the Riverland region's first Catholic secondary college in 2022, it has been announced today.
Catholic Education South Australia says the $19.5 million development will cater for up to 360 students from Year 7 to Year 12.
The Riverland has four Catholic primary schools; St Joseph's School, Barmera, Our Lady of the River School, Berri, St Albert's School, Loxton and St Joseph's School, Renmark.
Build it, community says
Catholic Education Port Pirie diocese director, Nichii Mardon, said extensive consultation and Riverland community interest in a secondary school option drove Catholic Education SA to progress with the project.
"It's a huge commitment, but incredibly exciting," she said.
"We've undertaken really detailed analysis through business case development in order to determine feasibility and desirability of establishing and expanding education across regional South Australia.
"Families have expressed to us — those in the four Catholic primary schools in the region and those outside it — [that they want] a choice of opportunities for their children, which is accessible and available to most other families within the state.
"So, it's trying to address that inequity … and we had very strong messaging and I guess that was a direct response to that."
Ms Mardon said the exact site location for the secondary school was yet to be announced, as more detailed analysis was required.
Renmark Paringa Council chief executive, Tony Siviour, said it was great news for the town, which was also about to experience a multi-million-dollar facelift along its riverfront.
"[A Catholic high school] has been talked about for probably 30 or 40 years and the fact that it's one step closer to fruition in the Riverland is really exciting," he said.
Catholic education expands in regional SA
Catholic Education SA has announced three other expansions of education in regional SA recently, including a new Xavier College campus at Two Wells in 2021.
St Joseph's School at Murray Bridge and St Mary MacKillop School at Wallaroo will also both be expanded to become reception to Year 9 schools from 2022.
"We've got such a strong commitment to providing the best possible learning for students in regional areas," Ms Mardon said.
"So, it's a combination of our two strategic priorities and, therefore, you need to put your money where your mouth is and provide the resources where it's possible and feasible to do so."
The new Catholic secondary college at Renmark will be built in two stages, with further details about construction dates yet to be announced.
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