Hastings Secondary College: Education department lodges $3.7M upgrade for Port Macquarie school

A multi-million dollar upgrade of a Mid-North Coast high school will see a new performing arts space and refurbished classrooms for students.

Plans for the first of two multimillion upgrades at school campuses along the Mid-North Coast have been lodged with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Details for the $3.7 million expansion of the Hastings Secondary College at Westport, Port Macquarie, have been revealed with new and upgraded learning spaces including the expansion of the Technology and Applied science (TAS) facilities set to begin as early as this year.

A new two-storey Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) building will also be added, and existing classrooms refurbished under the state government’s $7 billion package to invest in the upgrade of 200 schools over the next four years.

An artist impression of the completed Hastings Secondary College Westport campus upgrade.

The investment is the largest in the state’s public education infrastructure history.

Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams said she was delighted the Hastings Secondary College upgrade was progressing.

“The major upgrades at both the Westport and Port Macquarie campuses of Hastings Secondary College will support our current and future students,” Mrs Williams said.

“Port Macquarie is an important regional centre so I’m very pleased the NSW Government is delivering upgraded facilities for our community.

“The upgrade of the Westport Campus will deliver a relocated and upgraded administration office by repurposing Building L, a new front entrance and the refurbishment of Building A into flexible learning spaces.”

Hastings Secondary College Westport campus, Port Macquarie.

A breakdown of the upgrades at Hastings Secondary College.

The current proposal for the Westport Campus is to relocate the school administration to the main entry for the campus, repurpose the former administration offices into innovative and flexible learning spaces and provide a new campus entrance and landscaping.

A separate proposal also includes a shared use multi-sports facility which is being developed at the Port Macquarie campus in partnership with the PCYC.

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government was prioritising the needs of students in regional areas such as Port Macquarie.

“We want our students to be inspired when they come to school and the upgrade at Hastings Secondary College will do just that,” Ms Mitchell said.

“It will provide the local community with high-quality education facilities for students and teachers.”

Hastings Secondary College Port Macquarie campus, Port Macquarie.

Hastings Secondary College Hastings Secondary College comprises two Year 7-12 campuses, Port Macquarie Campus and Westport Campus.

Upgrades will occur at both campuses in a bid to enhance educational delivery, streamline and strengthen transition and pathway options for students and their community and provide the latest innovative teaching facilities.

The NSW Department of Education has committed to delivering new and upgraded schools for communities across NSW.

The delivery of these projects will help deliver future learning needs for students and support the growth of local economies.