Twenty-three new projects will be added to the NSW Government’s historic school building program as part of a $1.6bn investment, announced during the state’s 2022-23 Budget on Tuesday.
The new commitment brings the government’s investment in new and upgraded schools to $8.6bn over the next four years, with a public education infrastructure pipeline of $17.7bn – the largest investment in school building in the state’s history.
“We are building first-class education facilities across our State to help give our children the best start in life and providing our teachers with what they need to deliver the best educational outcomes,” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
“We are building for the future and securing a better way of life for generations of NSW families.”
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said nine of the major school projects were part of the NSW Government's commitment to WestInvest.
“Modernising education facilities is a clear objective of the WestInvest Program, and this investment continues our approach of recycling assets to deliver better community infrastructure for Western Sydney,” Ayres said.
“More and more families in Western Sydney are getting access to world-class learning facilities as we expand our pipeline of school infrastructure projects in the area.”
Treasurer Matt Kean said the State’s strong economic management means New South Wales could invest more in building schools to keep local communities growing and thriving.
“We are putting economic growth, jobs and opportunity at the forefront of our decision-making, with our modern methods of construction approach to school building creating new, advanced manufacturing jobs, particularly in Western Sydney,” Kean said.
“We continue to prioritise critical school infrastructure projects as New South Wales bounces back from the pandemic.”
NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, said the use of modern methods of construction meant school building projects were being delivered faster than ever before and were helping to grow the local manufacturing industry.
“Since 2017, the NSW Government has delivered $9.1 billion in school building projects, and we will keep funding for school infrastructure at record levels to ensure that students right across New South Wales have access to first-class, contemporary learning facilities,” Mitchell said.
“Our drive to deliver great schools for local families is continuing to gather pace and we will not be slowing down, because nothing is more important than investing in our children’s education.”
The new projects are:
- Albury/Thurgoona (new primary school)
- Austral Public School upgrade
- Bathurst Secondary School Community Group upgrade
- Gables (new primary school)
- Concord High School upgrade
- Condell Park High School upgrade
- Dubbo Primary School Community Group upgrade
- Gillieston Public School redevelopment
- Leeton Primary School Community Group upgrade
- Lennox Head Public School relocation
- Leppington Public School upgrade
- Macquarie Park (new primary school)
- Melonba (new primary school)
- Melrose Park Public School redevelopment
- Nirimba Fields (new primary school)
- Parramatta East Public School upgrade
- Riverbank Public School upgrade (Stage 3)
- Rouse Hill High School upgrade
- Schofields Public School upgrade
- Sir Joseph Banks High School upgrade
- Telopea Public School upgrade
- Ulladulla/Milton Primary School Community Group upgrade
- Ulladulla High School upgrade.