A Minns Labor Government will open the former Shoalhaven Anglican School at Milton for public education as part of its plan to expand public education opportunities on the South Coast.
Before the 2019 election, a community campaign forced the Department of Education to purchase the Shoalhaven Anglican School site following the school’s closure.
However, following the election the NSW Liberal Government put the school under lock and key, refusing to open it for public education use.
Labor’s will ensure the site at Milton is opened within the first term of a Minns Labor Government.
Retiring Member for South Coast, Shelley Hancock, described the site as “a world-class facility that is sitting idle”.
Labor’s plan would fix this, delivering upgraded school facilities across the former Anglican school site at Milton, Ulladulla High School, Ulladulla Public School and Milton Public School.
The local community will be a partner in the process to determine the best educational use of the former Shoalhaven Anglican School, with expanded high school facilities a top priority.
Over the past decade enrolments have grown in the southern Shoalhaven, with the three local public schools now overcrowded.
Ulladulla High School is currently overcapacity with seven demountable classrooms, while Ulladulla Public School and Milton Public School have 11 demountables and eight demountables respectively.
Demountable classrooms have overtaken the Ulladulla Public School playground to the point where the school needs to use offsite playground facilities across the road.
Despite promising school upgrades in the region, the NSW Liberal Government have failed to deliver.
Kindergarten enrolments have exploded in Milton and Ulladulla, with 10 kindergarten classes expected in 2023 across the Milton and Ulladulla primary schools.
NSW Deputy Labor Leader and Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Prue Car said:
“The Liberals have kept the former Shoalhaven Anglican School at Milton locked away gathering dust, whilst surrounding public schools have become overcrowded.
“Labor will upgrade this region’s public schools and open the former Shoalhaven Anglican School site to public education.
“A vote for Liza Butler is a vote for a passionate advocate for improving public schools on the South Coast.”
Labor candidate for South Coast Liza Butler said:
“My local community has watched as the former Shoalhaven Anglican School was locked up by the NSW Government instead of being opened for public education.
“Our local schools in Ulladulla and Milton are in desperate need of investment, and only Labor will make this happen.
“We commit to opening this school site within the first term of a Minns Labor Government and I will work with the school communities of the southern Shoalhaven to ensure the site provides the best possible education facilities.”
PRUE CAR MP
NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADER
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
LIZA BUTLER
NSW LABOR CANDIDATE FOR SOUTH COAST
