Revealed: South coast schools receiving millions of dollars of upgrades

Multiple schools across the NSW south coast – private and public – are set to receive millions of dollars of upgrades. See our list.

Multiple schools along the south coast are set to receive millions of dollars worth of upgrades.

Multiple schools along the NSW south coast are set to improve with millions of dollars worth of upgrades, ranging from new classrooms and facilities, to simple face uplifts.

Whether it be private schools in the Eurobodalla Shire or Bega Valley, or public schools in the Shoalhaven, a handful of schools along the coast are set to have some major glow ups.

But what schools specifically? How much are their upgrades and what will they include?

Here are some of the schools along the south coast set to improve with upgrades in the coming months and years.

Lumen Christi Catholic College, Pambula

Lumen Christi Catholic College in Pambula – 35km south of Bega – has applied for $8.6m worth of upgrades, with the development application currently sitting with the Bega Valley Council on public exhibition.

Plans reveal the construction of an entirely new block for the private school catering kindergarten to year 12.

The proposed block – known as Block B in architecture plans – includes multiple classrooms for primary school children, amenities, science and prep rooms, storage rooms and staffrooms.

Lumen Christi Catholic College in Pambula has applied for major upgrades.

The plans also reveal the construction of a dedicated wood workshop block, featuring five workshops, a machine room, store room and circulation.

Principal Shane Gillis said he was not ready to comment on the upgrades when approached by The South Coast News. 

The proposed upgrades for Lumen Christi Catholic College will remain on public exhibition with the Bega Valley Council until early next month.

Carroll College, Broulee

Carroll College in Broulee – 20km south of Batemans Bay – has applied for $3.9m of upgrades, with the development application also sitting with their local council – Eurobodalla Council.

The plans for the private school catering year 7 to 12 recently concluded its public exhibition phase with Eurobodalla Council and showcases the construction of a workshop facility, featuring senior workshop rooms, material storerooms, project storerooms, machinery room, amenities and staffrooms.

A look at the proposed plans for Carroll College Broulee.

The proposed construction also includes a separate block featuring multiple classrooms, store rooms and staff facilities to be built next to the existing admin room.

Extra carparking was also included in the proposed plans.

St Peters Anglican College, Broulee

St Peters Anglican College was recently listed as the fastest growing school on the south coast by The Daily Telegraph and is now set to grow even larger, with $23m expansion plans being approved by the NSW Regional Planning Panel.

Facilities ranging from a large scale gym to a recording studio are part of the multimillion-dollar plans for the private school catering kindergarten to year 12.

St Peter’s principal Darren McPartland said the rapid growth paved the way for the expansion.

“When you have a house with three kids, you would have three rooms, but then you have a house with seven kids, you would have seven rooms,” he said.

Recent upgrades have already been completed at St Peters, such as the recently opened TAS hub.

“You need to grow with the cohort.”

The beachside school had grown by more than 500 students in five years, according to Mr McPartland.

St Peter's Anglican College Principal, Darren McPartland.

Plans were originally submitted to Eurobodalla Council, but the Planning Panel took on the decision in August 2022 due to the development’s cost. A final decision was made more than a year later.

The flagged gym is set to include basketball and netball courts, a badminton area, bus bay, an expansion of the school’s performing arts centre and extra parking.

Planning Panel documents state the development was approved due to the positive impact on the school and broader community.

“The development would contribute to the educational needs of the region and provide access for the school and broader community to additional community facilities,” the documents state.

Construction is due to begin later this year.

Nowra East Public School, Nowra

Nowra East Public School in Nowra is in the early stages of government funded upgrades, with a specific construction price tag yet to be revealed.

The upgrades for the public primary school come as part of an $8.8 billion state government initiative across four years for new and upgraded public schools in NSW.

While plans for the upgrades are also yet to be finalised, works will likely include new permanent classrooms and support learning spaces, along with refurbishment of existing facilities.

Bomaderry Public School, Bomaderry

Bomaderry Public School’s upgrades also come as part of the NSW Government’s $8.8 billion plan to renew, expand and renovate multiple public schools across the state.

Plans for upgrades to the public high school, unveiled by the state government last week, showcase new fit-for-purpose learning spaces including classrooms and staffrooms, upgraded bathroom facilities, accessibility improvements, and increased pedestrian safety additions.

They also include a new building which is set to house updated administration facilities and Technological and Applied Studies classrooms.

Bomaderry High School Principal Ian Morris said he was excited about the needed upgrades.

An artist impression of the new sign with the upgrades.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to be considered for a rebuild,” he said.

Mr Morris said his students were already accessing high quality learning and was excited at the prospect of having new, high quality facilities for his students to learn in.

“There’s classrooms being repurposed in other exciting areas and our support faculty will have purpose built classrooms,” he said.

The new building will house classrooms, staffrooms and upgraded bathrooms, and will be constructed at the front of the property facing Cambewarra Rd, while the TAS and administration building will be constructed toward the back of the campus.

A construction contract is expected to be awarded in late 2024.

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Originally published as Revealed: South coast schools receiving millions of dollars of upgrades