$22m Wentworth Point Public School opens without air con
WENTWORTH Point Public School opened but the Opposition has questioned why air conditioning wasn’t included in the $22 million development. The average summer day is 28.5 degrees Celsius. Is that hot enough to warrant air con?
Parramatta
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WENTWORTH POINT Public School opened last week but the Opposition is baffled air conditioning wasn’t included in the $22 million development.
The 294-student school opened a year later than the State Government promised and has left Opposition leader Luke Foley a little underwhelmed.
“Kids are heading back into schools that are overcrowded and hot. Students and teachers deserve to be in environments that are conducive to learning,” he said.
Schools with a January average temperature above 30 degrees are eligible for air cooling under the NSW Department of Education’s policy.
At its nearest weather station according to Weatherzone, Parramatta North, the hottest day in summer was 31.7 degrees Celsius in January and February but its average peaked at 28.5 degrees Celsius in January.
Bureau of Meteorology’s Sydney Olympic Park shared similar data. Its average maximum temperature was 28.4 degrees Celsius in January.
Education Minister Rob Stokes said a well-designed school on the waterfront was not a priority for airconditioning.
“Where there are extremes of temperatures we will provide mechanical heating and cooling,” he said.
“However, good design, natural light and ventilation is a much better, ecologically sustainable solution.”
The $22.4 million 18-classroom school also has four special education classrooms, a library, hall, canteen, covered outdoor learning area and space to grow to meet future population needs.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes welcomed the students to the growing suburb last week to officially mark the school’s opening.
Mr Stokes said investing in education paid dividends across the entire economy.
They were among the 500,000 primary school students learning across the state this year.
“Investment in education is the only way to safeguard the future prosperity of NSW,” he said.
“These building projects will enrich every industry, sector and community not just in the short term, but for decades to come.”
But Mr Foley said the government needed to sort out its priorities.
“The billions it is spending knocking down and rebuilding two Sydney stadiums should go to schools and hospitals; they come first.”
BACK TO SCHOOL
● 500,000 primary school students
● 310,000 high school students
● Largest combined cohort in 40 years
● 85,000 teachers
● $4.2 billion in funds to build 120 major school projects over the next four years
● $747 million to address priority maintenance in schools over the next four years
