I am proud to be part of a Government that is continuing to revamp Canberra's existing schools to create 21^st century opportunities for students to benefit from the latest technology and environmentally friendly infrastructure. Our school infrastructure is under continual audit to prioritize and plan capital works.

I look forward to viewing all of the completed works and I warmly welcome school staff and students back for term three.

Upgrades are underway at Canberra schools including Majura and Macgregor Primary Schools and Belconnen, Calwell and Lyneham High Schools that include the expansion of classrooms, revamping school entries and other refurbishments.

Towards the end of this school term, Canberra College will have a new $9.35 million Performing Arts Centre, Malkara School will have a new $3.05 million hydrotherapy pool and five schools will have new artificial grass surfaces worth $2.3 million.

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the new Bonner Primary and Franklin Early Childhood Schools to view construction progress. I was greatly impressed with the designs and landscapes and I am glad to confirm they will be open for the start of the 2013 school year.

Many students who returned to school this week will have noticed additions and upgrades including new solar panels and a range of environmentally sustainable landscapes. A $450 000 Environmentally Sustainable Landscapes Project has been rolled out at Stromlo High School and Aranda, Gowrie, Red Hill and Giralang Primary Schools that will reduce water consumption and improve shading and seating for staff and students.

A majority of ACT schools now have solar panels as part of the ACT Solar Schools Programs. The new solar panel systems also generate a small income for schools through the Feed-In Tariff scheme that the schools can re-invest back into their school communities. Harrison School has just received its new solar panels and a further 26 schools will have their installations finalised by the end of the year.

In the 2012-13 financial year the ACT Government will provide capital funding of $122.3 million to public schools.

Planning has also begun for projects in the 2012-13 Budget, including:

· Taylor Primary School - $12.93 million over two years to rectify and upgrade the school, with works scheduled to be completed by December 2013, ready for the start of the 2014 school year;

· Duffy Primary School - $2.8 million over two years with works scheduled to be completed by December 2013, ready for the start of the 2014 school year.