No funding outlined for Marsden Park Public, Marsden Park high or Tallawong Public in State Budget

Promises of new schools to be built in Rouse Hill and Marsden Park may be hanging in the balance after the NSW Budget failed to allocate funding.

Kevin Conolly promised a new school in Marsden Park before the election, but no funding has been allocated in the budget.

• NSW Budget 2019: No further funding for Rouse Hill Hospital
• North South rail link to be driverless metro, link to Rouse Hill
• State to fast-track Sydney Metro West construction

Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Conolly may have described yesterday’s State Budget as an “Education Bonanza” — but funding for the construction of the promised Marsden Park High, Marsden Park Public and Tallawong Public School were left off the State Government’s big ticket spending.

State Budget documents revealed no specific funding had been allocated for the new schools, despite the release of concept designs to cater for 10000 primary students at Marsden Park Public, a location identified for Marsden Park High and a commitment to the construction of Tallawong Public by Mr Conolly as part of his campaign before the NSW Elections in March.

Concept designs for the school promised for Marsden Park.

Mr Conolly said he welcomed the budget delivering for the Riverstone electorate when it came to education infrastructure, including $45 million allocated for the new Farmland Drive Primary in Schofields, $3.9 million to fund the upgrade of Quakers Hill East Public, $11.5 million to upgrade Riverbank Public, $9.2 million for the redevelopment of Riverstone High and $24.2 million for Schofields Public.

Despite being included in Budget documents, no specific funding had been allocated for major upgrades of John Palmer Public in The Ponds or Glenwood High.

A total of $18.5 billion has been committed to education funding across the state, which is an increase of $1.2 billion on last year.

A new High School was also promised for Marsden Park but no funding was allocated in Tuesday’s budget.

In January, the NSW Government released concept designs for the new Marsden Park Public School — expected to cater for 38 per cent on the region’s total student population.

Planning documents for the school earmarked a communal hall, canteen, library, offices and classrooms, as well as a series of covered outdoor learning spaces and a special education unit.

Despite the fact that no funding has been committed in the NSW Budget, construction is expected to start this year and finish in early 2021.

Following the release of plans for Marsden Park High, Mr Conolly said planning for the construction of the school “will begin shortly to support the growing local community” — however could not reveal costings or a timeline of the construction.

The school is expected to be located at a greenfield site off Elara Blvd, Marsden Park.

A new primary school has been proposed for Tallawong in the area surrounding Rouse Hill. Kevin Conolly with constituents.

Just days before the March elections, Mr Conolly came out again to announce Tallawong Primary School had been secured for Rouse Hill, however, he couldn’t identify a site, budget or timeline for its construction.

Premier Berejiklian said the record investment is part of the NSW Government’s plan to have the best education system in Australia, “if not the world”.

“We are delivering on our promise to provide a quality education to students, no matter where they live or what their circumstances may be,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Treasurer Perrottet said the funding demonstrated the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering a world class education system for the students of NSW.

“This record school funding is only possible as a result of strong economic management,” Mr Perrottet said.

MORE TO COME