A Minns Labor Government will fast-track an upgrade of Darcy Road Public School and deliver upgrades to Northmead Public School and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School, providing improved educational facilities for Western Sydney families.
In 2018, the NSW Liberal Government promised an upgrade for Darcy Road Public School in Wentworthville, but more than four years later the upgrade is still in planning with 21 demountables on the school playground.
Labor will ensure the Darcy Road Public School upgrade is constructed and completed for 1,000 students, removing every demountable.
Labor will also upgrade Northmead Public School and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School to provide additional student capacity and upgraded facilities.
All three schools currently rely on demountable classrooms, with 21 demountables on the Darcy Road Public School playground, nine at Northmead Public School and three at Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School.
This problem will only get worse as all three schools are within the Parramatta Local Government Area which is expecting to grow by another 127,296 people by 2041. That is the single largest LGA growth number in the state.
The school upgrades are part of Labor’s plan to deliver school infrastructure for growing communities and remove demountables from school playgrounds.
NSW Liberals under-delivering on school infrastructure
The latest NSW budget shows that the Perrottet Government under-delivered on 113 school infrastructure projects – spending $1.26 billion less than was promised in the 2021-22 budget, including on a new primary school in Tallawong, and upgrades for schools in Randwick, Carlingford and Picnic Point.
Meanwhile, eight of the 10 biggest enrolment surges are in Greater Western Sydney schools.
And nine of the 10 biggest schools over their enrolment cap are also in Greater Western Sydney.
Under NSW Liberals, demountables take over Western Sydney school playgrounds
In 2018 there were 4,781 demountable classrooms across NSW schools.
In 2022 there are now 5,094 demountable classrooms – an increase of 313.
Western Sydney went up from 1,903 demountables to 2,242 – an increase of 339.
Quotes attributable to NSW Shadow Minister for Education Prue Car:
“NSW Labor has a plan to upgrade Western Sydney schools to ensure every family can access the best possible education in their local community.
“Local families have told us about their children’s school playgrounds being smothered by demountables.
“This 12 year old NSW Liberal Government has simply not delivered on its promises on Western Sydney schools.”
Quotes attributable to Labor Candidate for Winston Hills Sameer Pandey:
“Darcy Road Public School is a fantastic local school, but it is urgently in need of an upgrade.
“Labor will invest in local education, delivering a long-promised upgrade to Darcy Road Public School and upgrades to Northmead Public School and Northmead Creative and Performing Arts High School.”
PRUE CAR MP
NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADER
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
SAMEER PANDEY
NSW LABOR CANDIDATE FOR WINSTON HILLS
