- Tender advertised to complete demolition works of the St Andrew's Hostel site in Katanning
- Survivors and family members will be consulted on a memorial or remembrance space to acknowledge the abuse that occurred at the hostel
The tender has been advertised for demolition works of St Andrew's Hostel buildings in Katanning.
This follows an extensive community and stakeholder consultation process conducted in 2023.
An assessment of buildings adjacent to the site - which do not form part of the St Andrew's Hostel complex and are no longer used by students - has been completed.
It has been determined none of these buildings are suitable to be repurposed and will also be demolished. The vacated land will be disposed of through established Government land divestment processes following demolition.
A representative group consisting of survivors, former hostel residents and family members will be instrumental in a process to decide on the nature and location of a permanent memorial or remembrance space to acknowledge the child sexual abuse that occurred at the hostel during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
They will work with an expert art consultant to develop an artists' brief and then decide on the final design. The process to decide on the nature and location of the memorial space will run alongside the demolition process.
It is expected that demolition of all buildings, fixtures, and services, including underground services, will take between six and 12 months.
Comments attributed to Education Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"This is a very sensitive process, but I am pleased we're moving forward with the demolition of these facilities.
"Survivors, former hostel residents and family members will be involved in the next stage, as the Department of Education looks to develop a design brief for a memorial or remembrance space on or near the site."
