NSW Election: Education Minister Rob Stokes visits Prestons Public School

Construction has officially begun on a $10 million upgrade at Prestons Public School, with Education Minister Rob Stokes visiting the southwest to mark the milestone.

Holsworthy state Liberal MP Melanie Gibbons and Education Minister Rob Stokes at Prestons Public School, where construction has begun on a major upgrade. Picture: Cindy Ngo

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Construction has officially begun on a $10 million upgrade to Prestons Public School, with Education Minister Rob Stokes visiting the southwest to mark the milestone.

The school will benefit from 10 new airconditioned classrooms, which will replace existing demountable classrooms, an expanded hall, new library and administration facilities.

Holsworthy state Liberal MP Melanie Gibbons, Education Minister Rob Stokes and Prestons Public School principal Liz Van Der Meulen at the construction site. Picture: Cindy Ngo

The upgrade is part of the State Government’s $6 billion school building program to deliver more than 170 new and upgraded schools across the state.

Mr Stokes was joined by Holsworthy state Liberal MP Melanie Gibbons on a tour of the school’s learning spaces.

Ms Gibbons said the upgrade was exciting for local families in the area, which is undergoing rapid growth.

“All the schools around here are very busy and very popular,” she said.

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“When the Minister was last here we looked at the plans and now they’re ready to get started so it’s great.”

Ms Gibbons said the delivery of a new primary and high school at Edmondson Park — currently in the planning stage — would also take the pressure off families.

“No parent likes to have to drive a distance and spend their time backwards and forwards in traffic when they want to get to work and get their day underway,” she said.

The upgrade at Prestons Public School is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

Liverpool state Labor MP Paul Lynch.

Meantime, a Daley Labor Government has promised to replace ageing demountable classrooms at public schools with new airconditioned classrooms.

Liverpool state Labor MP Paul Lynch said $500 million from the Government’s stadium spend would be used to deliver the new classrooms if Labor wins the March 23 election.

“After the last eight years, out of 93 electorates, Liverpool has the 23rd and Holsworthy the

31st highest number of demountable classrooms with respectively 68 and 58 such

classrooms, according to information we obtained under freedom of information,” he said.