Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill commits to major upgrades to Randwick Boys’ and Girls’ high schools

Two schools in the eastern suburbs will receive $60 million worth of upgrades if a Labor government is elected at the upcoming state election.

Member for Coogee Marjorie O'Neill has taken aim at the Liberal-National government over public transport and public schools. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

Multimillion-dollar upgrades to two schools in the eastern suburbs will be “fast-tracked” if Labor win the upcoming state election.

Coogee Labor MP Marjorie O’Neill, speaking at her recent campaign launch, said Labor was committed to completing major upgrades at Randwick Boys’ and Randwick Girls’ high schools.

“The facilities do not match the teaching quality,” Ms O’Neill said. “There is a final business case that has been developed, which sets out $60 million (is needed). We need those upgrades to happen, and we’re committed to doing that.”

A business case prepared by School Infrastructure NSW in 2021 stated the preferred option to upgrade the schools would cost $60m.

Some works are currently taking place, including construction of a Fitness Learning Hub at Randwick Boys’ and demolition work on the existing science laboratories.

Randwick Boys High School.

A School Infrastructure NSW February report also detailed how a newly-constructed woodwork learning facility was expected to open in early Term 1, with roof replacement works for Block E expected to be completed last month.

Despite this, Ms O’Neill said the NSW Government had failed to properly “fulfil their own commitment” in upgrading the two schools.

Randwick Girls High School. Picture: John Appleyard

Ms O’Neill also said an elected Labor government would follow through on plans to build a “new school east of the CBD”.

“That starts with a planning process, and doing a full audit of all government land” she said. “Parents in the eastern suburbs should not have to find $50,000 a year to send their kids to school.”

Ms O’Neill’s outlined Labor’s promise to “address the failures of privatisation” and reintroduce “key bus routes” removed by the Liberal state government.

This followed an upper house committee last year finding bus privatisation had led to higher costs for commuters and worse services, with the 378, 373, 370, 400 and many others earmarked for a return to service.

“In the inquiry, more than 80 per cent of people who originally rode a bus to get to work, now drive,” Ms O’Neill said.

“There is more congestion on our roads today because of these bus cuts. So we know that in order to address this congestion we have to … get them back.”

Ms O’Neill said Labor was working alongside the unions to “increase our bus driver numbers in the eastern suburbs”.