Over 200 demountables becoming ‘part of the furniture’ in Canterbury Bankstown

THEY’RE meant to be temporary solutions for overcrowded classrooms — but demountables are steadily taking over playgrounds in schools across Canterbury Bankstown.

Demountables are eating up play space in Canterbury Bankstown with the NSW Department of Education revealing there are 211 temporary classrooms on school grounds locally.

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THEY’RE meant to be temporary solutions for overcrowded classrooms — but demountables are steadily taking over playgrounds in schools across Canterbury Bankstown.

The NSW Department of Education has revealed there are 211 demountable classrooms on government school sites across Canterbury Bankstown.

One school, Chester Hill High School, has 25 demountables on its grounds — one of the highest in the state.

The numbers show that schools in the area aren’t coping and a Department of Planning and Environment analysis shows that Canterbury Bankstown will need 40 new schools to accommodate the population over the next 20 years as part of the additional population proposed within the Sydenham to Bankstown corridor.

Chester Hill High School has one of the highest number of demountables in the state, a staggering 25.

Local Labor MPs are shocked that only two schools in the area — Canterbury South Public and Yagoona Public schools — have been earmarked for an upgrade as part of the State Budget.

While the Department of Education said all demountables are air-conditioned, maintained regularly, and often replaced with permanent facilities, Opposition spokesman for education Jihad Dib, said they are becoming “part of the furniture”.

“Demountables are a temporary solution, but what happens is they become part of the furniture,” Mr Dib said.

“Once they’re in there, they don’t go. Every time a demountable goes onto a school, it takes away play space on schools. They leak when it rains, they grow mould in winter. It’s far from a conducive environment for learning.”

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Canterbury state Labor MP Sophie Cotsis said with the anticipated growth of the area, there has been no forward planning from the government.

“The Berejiklian Government is targeting our community for extreme growth,” Ms Cotsis said.

“They’ve announced 36,000 dwellings in our area over the next 20 years and all the while local schools are currently over capacity.”

The Department of Education and the Premier were contacted for comment.

SCHOOLS WITH MOST DEMOUNTABLES IN CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN:

Chester Hill High School (25), Bankstown Senior College (11), Birrong Girls High School (11), Yagoona Public School (10), East Hills Girls Technology High School (9).