Education Minister Liz Constable was on hand last week to turn the first sod on Hedland Senior High School’s new administration block.

Due for completion in December, the new building will next to the existing Matt Dann Cultural Centre.

The development will also include a refurbishment of another building’s classroom facilities.

Dr Constable said the $11.35 million upgrade would cater for the growing demands being placed on the school and Hedland community.

“This investment in state-of-the-art facilities will ensure local students have the same advantages as those in Perth and other major centres,” she said.

“The Port Hedland area is at the centre of the expanding Western Australian resources industry and schools need to meet the demands of the growing population.”

The refurbished building will house information and communication technology laboratories and feature wireless internet access and interactive whiteboards and notebooks.

The additional classrooms will accommodate the move of Year 7 students to public secondary schools from 2015.

The upgrade has been funded by BHP Billiton and Royalties for Regions.

BHP vice-president for health, safety, environment and community Carl Binning said the company was proud to support such an important community project.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said the new facilities were an important part of the Pilbara Cities initiative.