Hawker Primary School’s newly built ramp winds through the school’s garden.
02 July 2025
In brief:
- There is a lot of work happening at public schools in Belconnen.
- This includes building a brand-new school, school upgrades and an oval refresh project.
- This story gives an overview of this work.
There’s a lot happening at public schools in the Belconnen region.
From facilities upgrades to a brand-new school, we look at some of the work that’s:
- been recently completed
- currently taking place
- planned.
This work will ensure every child has access to great, accessible, sustainable facilities and infrastructure that support high-quality education in the ACT.
Progress on Strathnairn School
Construction is well underway on what will be the ACT’s 93rd public school.
The new Strathnairn School will be co-located with an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service.
It will cater for:
- 780 students from preschool to year 6
- 130 ECEC places.
The school’s foundation principal, Nicole Nicholson, and other executive staff have been announced.
When will the school open?
Strathnairn School will open in stages.
- It will open for students in preschool to year 2 at the start of 2026.
- It is expected students from all year levels will be able to attend in 2027.
This will offer families in the Ginninderry region high-quality public education close to home.
Who can enrol?
The planned School Priority Enrolment Area (PEA) for the new school includes:
- Strathnairn
- Macnamara
- Ginninderry Stage 3
- a portion of new development in Holt, west of the golf course bounded by Fullston Way and Lionel Rose Street.
Enrol your child at Strathnairn School
Find out more about the school on the Built for CBR website
The Strathnairn School site in May 2025
Have your say on a refreshed Fraser oval
The dryland oval beside Fraser Primary school is getting a refresh. This will make it more useful for students as a learning and play space.
The community can use it too. Outside school hours, sporting groups and locals can head there for exercise, sports and recreation.
Canberrans are now invited to share ideas on how best to refresh this popular space. Children and young people are encouraged to get involved.
How to share your views
Visit the YourSay Conversations website to take a survey and/or mark your ideas on an online map.
You can do this until Wednesday, 13 August.
The ACT Government has sought early ideas from staff and students at Fraser Primary School. Traditional Owners have also shared feedback on what is important to them in this new space.
Your feedback will help shape a concept design for the refreshed oval. This will be shared through the YourSay platform.
You will then have further opportunity to give feedback before the designs are finalised.
Have your say now via the YourSay Conversations website.
Fraser oval will be refreshed for both student and community use.
Hawker Primary School upgrades
Hawker Primary School students and staff are benefitting from recent upgrades.
The school has welcomed new accessible car parking bays. There is also now a ramp leading to its entrance.
The front office has had a makeover with:
- a new two-door entrance
- new furniture
- LED lighting
- upgrades to the sick bay and nearby toilet.
The school now has a new printer facility room. Upgrades to the boardroom and principal’s office are also complete.
This work has been completed as part of the ACT Government’s Asset Renewal Program.
The Hawker Primary School front office has had a makeover.
Upgrades ahead for Melba Copland Secondary School
The 2025–26 ACT Budget includes support for the master planning, design and construction of priority upgrades at Melba Copland Secondary School.
These will include an upgrade to the foyer at the College campus, and a plan for future works.
