PREMIER Chris Minns, Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car and Member for Camden Sally Quinnell have visited Gregory Hills Public School to turn the first sod and mark the start of construction for the new school.
The new school will replace a temporary school that opened on Day 1 Term 1 2023 – a stop gap measure after the former Liberal National government repeatedly failed to deliver on its promise to build a school.
The new primary school will cater for up to 1,000 children from the area and is anticipated to open next year as the Minns Labor Government delivers on its promise to prioritise schools in the fast-growing northwest and southwest of Sydney.
The State Significant Development application is now approved and the construction contract is imminent.
It follows two major education milestones in southwest Sydney. Last month construction began on the stage 2 upgrade for neighbouring Gledswood Hills Primary School which will deliver an additional 20 learning spaces.
Gregory Hills has grown from 38 people in 2011 to 14300 in 2021. The Camden LGA is growing from a population of 107,908 in 2021 to 197,735 in 2041 – an increase of 83 per cent.
The new primary school was first promised by the former government in 2018, it was supposed to be delivered in 2023, but the school had been delayed.
The permanent Gregory Hills Public School will include 44 learning spaces, 4 support learning spaces, administration and staff facilities, a canteen, multi-purpose hall, library, covered outdoor learning area (COLA) and landscaped outdoor learning areas.
Outdoor play areas will include a sports court and a playing field, with the potential for shared community use.