Premier Gladys Berejiklian visits Parramatta Public School
Rooftop playgrounds, 360-degree city views, 40 learning spaces, a giant slide but barely a blade of grass — take a look at one of the state’s newest multi-storey schools.
Parramatta
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has defended multi-storey schools while spruiking the “very different, vertical” $345 million education precinct for 3000 students at Parramatta.
The first stage of Parramatta Public School’s redevelopment, with a capacity for 1200 students, will reopen tomorrow.
Across the road, the 17-storey Arthur Phillip High — the state’s first high-rise school — opened its doors and lifts to 2000 — today, a year behind schedule.
Rapid growth saw Parramatta Public School students relocate to O’Connell St in 2018 but a fire in May that year disrupted construction.
Parramatta Public and Arthur Phillip High schools were built $225 million over budget.
Last year, former Education Minister Rob Stokes dismissed building more high-rise schools because of the lack of space and practical problems moving hundreds of students in lifts presented.
But Ms Berejiklian said higher density living was appropriate for Parramatta.
“A lot of these children live in apartments and we reflect that in the school as well,’’ she said.
“It’s definitely not one size fits all. Every school community will have a different approach to their school environment.
“It depends on the area. It’s certainly very different. It’s a vertical school.”
Year 6 student Vihan Roopeshkumar said he felt blessed about the school and loved the big playground.
“I really like the rooftop, how we can save energy with the solar panels,’’ he said.
His peer Jade Tellis said: “It is an amazing place which is a lot of fun.’’
Parramatta Public School principal Gail Charlier said the “vast majority” of students from the school lived in apartments.
She labelled the school as “gorgeous”.
“To see it come to fruition is very exciting,’’ she said.
“On the old site we had a lot of demountables. We didn’t have a hall, we had very limited space to work with.”
The primary school’s second stage will include another playground and classrooms stretching to Smith St, and is due to open next year.
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay welcomed new schools for the state but labelled the $225 million blowout on the Parramatta project as a “waste of money” that could have funded nine new schools.
Ms McKay said at least 116 new projects were being delayed at places such as Westmead Public — the state’s largest primary school with 1600 students.
She said the school was one of six in the Parramatta, Seven Hills and Granville electorates promised for upgrades but with no funds allocated under the budget.
“The Liberals promised a new school for Westmead in 2018, but two years later there is no funding in the State Budget, no site and no construction time frame,’’ she said.
She said funding arrangements and basic project details were also absent for a new school at Rydalmere, as well as upgrades at Pendle Hill High, Carlingford West Public, Cumberland High and Darcy Road Public schools.
Ms Berejiklian said the opening of Parramatta Public School would take pressure off schools such as Westmead Public.