$35 million North Kellyville Public School swelters without aircons until March

Temperatures are peaking at 36 degrees this week and the students at North Kellyville Public School would be feeling the heat with no airconditioning units installed.

Students on the first day at the new North Kellyville Public School. Picture: Dylan Robinson

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Despite the state-of-the-art facilities at the new North Kellyville Public School, students are still sweating on airconditioning units being installed at the $35 million school.

Since opening a fortnight ago, students have been sweltering in most of the classrooms.

Only three special-needs classrooms have the relief of airconditioning while all other classrooms will have to wait until March.

“Airconditioning has already been installed in a number of special needs classrooms at the school,” a NSW Department of Education spokesman said.

“By mid-March every North Kellyville Public School student will be in an airconditioned classroom.”

The temperature has soared past 30C on six school days since the school opened.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian was on hand to open the school only two weeks ago. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Under the cooler classrooms program announced last year, the NSW Government committed to build airconditioning units in all new schools. The program also includes schools undergoing major redevelopments and schools in areas with an average maximum January temperature of 30C or above.

Other schools need to apply to receive airconditioning in classrooms and libraries.

Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams said work was under way to finish the airconditioning facilities at North Kellyville Public and he asked for patience.

“We would have loved to have had it by the start of the school year but hopefully we don’t get too many more 40C days,” he said.

“I think anyone who has been to the school knows it is a lovely new school.”

Meanwhile, the new $45 million Bella Vista Public School had airconditioning at the start of the year.