I have used Google Maps to make an interactive map that shows all Government Primary schools in the ACT. Also shown are 1.6km radius circles from each school. Schools listed to close under the Towards 2020 plan are represented by a red dot, and red circle. Those remaining open are represented by a blue dot and blue circle. The new P-10 school in West Belconnen (on the site of the old Ginninderra District High) and the proposed P-10 school in Harrison are also shown.
Placing your mouse over a dot will pop up a window identifying the school. If you click on this dot the walking circle will disappear. The controls at the top of the map can turn circles on and off with one click. If you have painstakingly selected or deselected individual schools these buttons will throw away your selections.
These 1.6km radius circles represent the farthest a primary age student can easily walk to school. In fact this is at the edge of what is considered a reasonable walking distance for children of this age.
Examining the map with the closing schools “turned off” the suburbs of Giralang and Weston are particularly badly affected. The relative isolation of Spence is reinforced, and some parts of Melba and also Gilmore will be a long way from a Primary school.
It is also makes you wonder why they chose to close Melrose and not Lyons, as this would have made for a better spread of schools. The same can be said for Isabella Plains and Bonython, though neither would have safe access to alternate schools.
Update: I updated the map to reflect the final decision of the ACT Government. In summary, Mt Rogers, Giralang, Isabella Plains and Gilmore are no longer shown as closing. In addition I have added the P-10 school the Government plans to build on the Kambah High site (to open in 2011). It seems odd to put a P-10 school right next to the existing Urambi Primary.
