Labor commits to dumping Murwillumbah school merger and working to build new Pottsville high school

The new Minns Labor government has aired what will happen to a merger of Tweed schools in the wake of the election. The government has also reiterated a promise for a new school.

A concept image of Murwillumbah Education Campus.

The new Minns Labor state government has committed to abandoning a merger of four Tweed school in the works, and reiterated its promise to build a new Pottsville school.

It’s prompted re-elected Tweed MP – who got up ahead of Labor contender Craig Elliot – to air his doubts the new state-of-the-art Pottsville high school will ever see the light of day.

The newly formed state government will ditch plans in the works as election campaigning was underway to amalgamate Murwillumbah Public School, Murwillumbah East Public School, Murwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School together into the Murwillumbah Learning Community.

A concept image of the proposed Murwillumbah Education Campus.

Merging the schools has long been controversial, but Murwillumbah and Wollumbin high schools students already started learning together at the former Wollumbin High campus at the start of this year. Meanwhile, a new mega campus for the Learning Community has been taking shape on the Murwillumbah High School site.

Approached on the back of Labor’s election win. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car reiterated the party’s stance before the election.

She said the Minns government would work to build the new Pottsville school and undo the merger.

Labor’s Tweed candidate Craig Elliot with Prue Car ahead of the election. Labor formed government, but Mr Elliot was not able to oust long-time Tweed MP Geoff Provest. Picture: David Bonaddio

“As planning gets underway and commences, we look forward to sharing details with the local community”, she said.

“I have instructed the Department of Education to undertake a full review of Murwillumbah Learning Community, including consulting with the local community, to ensure the retention of Murwillumbah’s four public schools.

Our priority is minimising disruption to students and staff through this process.”

Retained Lismore MP Janelle Saffin celebrates her re-election with supporters.

Retained Lismore Labor MP Janelle Saffin, whose electorate includes Murwillumbah, said current upgrades at the Murwillumbah High School campus.

She said she would be having conversations with Ms Car about the future of schools embroiled in the merger.

“I shall also be consulting with our school communities, meeting with local teachers on Monday (April 3) and with representatives of all four Parents and Citizens Associations on Wednesday (April 5),” she said.

Murwillumbah Education Campus.

“Let me be absolutely clear – there will be no merger of local schools.”

Ms Saffin added that she was honoured to have been re-elected for a second term

“I now can deliver the commitments that I secured from NSW Premier Chris Minns and his team, including this key one of keeping open Murwillumbah’s four public schools”, she said.

Retained Tweed MP Geoff Provest with his wife at Club Tweed after the election win. Picture: David Bonaddio

Mr Provest cast doubt on Labor’s plans and pointed out “the Pottsville High School never appeared on Labor’s election costings”.

“If you build a new high school in Pottsville you’ll take away 300 kids away from Kingscliff,” he said.

“Pottsville should get a high school when the demand is there.

“Labor may have promised it, whether or not they proceed with it, but they’re not following the Department of Education”.

Murwillumbah Education Campus.

Mr Provest said he was concerned the Tweed would be starved of funding under the new government.

“I can see no bright light for the horizon,” he said.

“I think we’re going to be starved of funds. The new premier has said he didn’t know much about the regions.

“We’re lucky we got the hospital underway.

“It’s a bit of a wait and see.”