Riverstone Rd school site scrapped by Education Department

A vacant site secured and earmarked by the state government for a future school to meet the demands of the fast-growing population of western Sydney is no longer wanted by the Education Department.

A vacant site secured and earmarked by the state government for a future school to meet the demands of the fast-growing population of western Sydney is no longer wanted by the Education Department.

Blacktown Council were recently made aware plans to build a school on a 1.5ha site on Riverstone Rd, Riverstone had been scrapped.

Email correspondence between the Education Department and Blacktown Council reveal the government is of the view future expansions of Riverstone Public School (3ha) and Riverstone High School (8ha) would cater for future demand.

The Department of Education acquired the Riverstone Rd site in 2010.

Blacktown Council have plans in motion for the site, once earmarked for a future school, to be rezoned for residential housing.

Riverstone Chamber of Commerce vice president Warren Kirby was angered and bewildered by the decision and said local public schools were already overpopulated.

Riverstone Chamber of Commerce vice president Warren Kirby says if numerous schools aren’t built in the area it will be nothing short of catastrophic.

“It is a genuine obligation for the government to provide this infrastructure and it is the duty of the government to provide education facilities,” he said.

“They are ignoring the forecast numbers and it will be nothing short of catastrophic if they don’t bring a number of schools in.

“These new residential developments flooding the local area are being targeted at young families and you can see for example in Marsden Park how quickly these schools are growing.”

Data from forecastID indicated the areas of Riverstone, Grantham Farm, Vineyard East, Marsden Park, Melonba, Shanes Park, Tallawong, Rouse Hill Angus, Richards and Vineyard West is currently home to about 7500 children aged 10-19.

By 2033, the number of children in the same age group is forecast to reach 27,000.

“Based on the current catchment areas of these schools it is likely there will be close to 20,000 high school aged kids (12-18) eligible to enrol at Riverstone High School in the next decade,” Mr Kirby said.

“I do not comprehend how anybody could come to the conclusion that the existing infrastructure is capable of coping.”

Riverstone High School. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

In a statement to The Blacktown Advocate, the Education Department said securing the site in 2010 didn’t mean it was committed to building a school.

“Being listed as the land acquisition authority is not a commitment to utilise these sites and it is not expected they will be required for future public education infrastructure,” an Education Department spokeswoman said.

"Numerous strategies are used to manage fluctuating enrolment demands in the short to medium term, including reviewing school intake areas to improve utilisation, providing temporary facilities, and enforcing the Department’s enrolment policy. "

The site previously earmarked for a school was located only a kilometre away from Riverstone high and primary schools.

Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly. Picture: Joel Carrett

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly said there were a number of other sites in the region the Education Department had secured, to potentially be future schools. w

“The lots on Riverstone Road we decided were not in the best place to serve the needs of the community as some of the other sites could better do that,” he said.

“We have a site in Tallawong and we are planning for another one in Vineyard, so there are a number across the region.”

Mr Conolly said he was also confident funds would be allocated in this year's budget for a new school in Nirimba Fields.