Campaigners react to budget funding for Gregory Hills school

A long-awaited Macarthur primary school, announced back in 2013, will finally begin construction after it has been revealed it could have been pushed back to 2027.

Parents remain frustrated about the state government’s inaction regarding a long-awaited public school after it was revealed $4.1 million has been dedicated to the project in this year’s state Budget.

The Gregory Hills Primary School is one of 44 schools earmarked for construction to begin in the next financial year and is set to cater for 1000 students.

Community campaigner and Gledswood Hills resident, Hanna Braga, told the Macarthur Chronicle she was relieved to “finally see some money in the Budget” but was disappointed it took so much community push to see it happen.

Ms Braga began advocating for the school towards the end of last year when they found there would be 10 new kindergarten classes starting in neighbouring school in Gledswood Hills.

An artist impression of Gregory Hills Public School.

“Because of this there are demountable classrooms which would push out the date of Stage Two and we expect the same scenario to happen in Oran Park, so we started the group and it grew very quickly,” Ms Braga said.

“The entire community is very passionate about it.”

Gledswood Hills Public School has been burdened with demountables, with Education Minister Sarah Mitchell revealing a total of 18 portable classrooms had been delivered to the school to accommodate for the growing number of students.

Land allocated for Gregory Hills Public School has sat vacant since it was announced in 2013 but fresh documents have now revealed it had been pushed back until 2027.

The school was originally meant to be completed by 2023 - information that was only revealed when Ms Braga submitted a Freedom of Information request for the original plans.

“We found papers to show they had pushed this school opening back to 2027 so it is clear without the push from the community and bad media that this would not have ended up in the Budget,” she said.

Ms Braga claims the government’s handling of the school is “absolutely shameful”.

Hanna Graba (pictured centre in yellow jumper) and other Camden parents are not happy the timeline for the Gregory Hills Public School has been pushed back to 2027.

“They continue to allow developers to build these communities with lot sizes becoming smaller and squeezing more families in,” the young mother said.

“They don’t do the right thing and put proper infrastructure in … it’s clear without the push from the community and the media this would not have ended up in the Budget.”

Ms Braga’s efforts don’t end with the primary school and says the parents will soon be pushing for a new high school to cater for Gledswood Hills and Gregory Hills.

However Camden state Liberal MP Peter Sidgreaves said the documents obtained under freedom of information were outdated.

Mr Sidgreaves said he was proud to see the project finally getting some traction and was “advocating” for a high school to be built in the growing areas.

“Building new and upgraded schools has always been one of my priorities,” he said.

The new Gledswood Hills Public School has been burdened with 18 demountables since it opened.

He told the Macarthur Chronicle construction was expected to begin towards the end of 2022.

“The school will be built for 1000 students and should be constructed using modular methods in the same way that Barramurra and Denham Court public schools were built which is much faster than a traditional build taking months not years to complete,” he said.

“I have been advocating for the Gregory Hills Public School for over a year and I’m excited for the local residents that this is now happening.”

Mr Sidgreaves said he was also advocating for a new high school to accommodate for the growing number of students in the area.

“I have also been advocating for a new high school in the growth areas in Gregory Hills, Gledswood Hills and Emerald Hills,” he said.

“I will continue to work with the Minister for Education to ensure that a high school is delivered.”

During the announcement for the new school last week, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said construction was due to start in 2022.

“Where this school is concerned, I understand construction will start next year, and that's dependent on getting all the DAs through the appropriate authorities,” Ms Berejiklian said during a press conference.

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the planning process for the Gregory Hills school began in the 2018/2019 financial year.