Kids and parents’ patience tested as Gregory Hills Public School opens

Southwest Sydney schoolkids are settling into new digs at Gregory Hills this week as the Minns government marks its first complete sod-turn to ribbon-cutting school build. See inside the brand new school.

The Minns government marked its first complete sod-turn to ribbon-cutting school build on Tuesday with the official opening of Gregory Hills Public School.

Southwest Sydney schoolkids are settling into new digs at Gregory Hills this week as the Minns government marks its first complete sod-turn to ribbon-cutting school build.

Brand new permanent buildings at Gregory Hills Public School opened to students for the first time on Tuesday, after kids spent six months learning out of a “temporary” demountable site next door.

The move across marks an “exciting” moment for the parents who have long campaigned for a second primary school in the booming area, which now features 44 more classrooms, a new library, basketball and handball courts.

The new Gregory Hills Public School features 44 modern classrooms. Picture: Supplied

The new school also boasts plenty of playground space, including handball and basketball courts. Picture: Supplied

Local mum Kate Laney has two children at Gregory Hills, having relocated them from the overcrowded Gledswood Hills Public School less than 2km away, and said families feel a sense of relief to finally have modern, permanent classrooms and plenty of play space.

“It’s really exciting, because we were really outgrowing the temporary school – it was getting busier and busier, and the traffic situation was crazy,” she said.

Mum Kate Laney and her two sons Lucas and Nathan – students of Gregory Hills Public School. Picture: Julian Andrews

“It’s just beautiful to be in these new spaces, together as a community … especially for the older kids who have been waiting for this for a long time – they’ve been so patient.”

Premier Chris Minns and his deputy Prue Car will cut the ribbon on the multimillion-dollar infrastructure project on Thursday.

The new school building, seen in the foreground of this picture, has been embraced by students and families alike. Picture: Supplied

“One of my first visits when I became Labor leader was to meet with parents in the Gregory Hills community and hear from them about the absolute necessity of this school,” Mr Minns said.

“I was proud to return last year to turn the sod on this project, and I’m thrilled to be back to see the doors finally open for this community.”

Education Minister Prue Car said the grand opening was “a wonderful moment” for an area fast outgrowing their existing school amenities, in a community that had “fought hard to have their educational needs met”.

The new buildings replace this temporary demountable facility kids have been learning in since the start of the year. Picture: Julian Andrews

Gregory and Gledswood Hills are together one of 10 “growth areas” where the school-aged population has increased by more than 240 per cent over five years, along with the “forgotten suburb” of Box Hill where families successfully put the pressure on the Minns government to deliver the area’s first schools.

Following The Daily Telegraph’s campaign for Box Hill, Ms Car committed to building two new schools that would open in 2028.