The long-time calls from the West Dapto community for a new school will be answered by Labor should it win government on March 23.
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NSW Shadow Treasurer Ryan Park, Shadow Minister for Education, Jihad Dib and Shellharbour MP Anna Watson dropped by Wongawilli on Wednesday to deliver NSW Labor's $60 million commitment to commence the planning and construction of a new school in West Dapto.
A site has yet to be found but Mr Dib said construction of a new education precinct in West Dapto would begin during Labor's first term of government.
Labor will talk with the community and other stakeholders before deciding to build either a primary school with an attached preschool or a K-12 college facility.
"This commitment today is iron clad," Mr Dib said.
"There will be a school built in this area, because we need it….it's one of the fastest growth areas in NSW, with up to 50,000 residents here within 20 years.
"We are not going to wait until more kids are squeezed in like sardines or crammed into schools and having to sit in demountables. There are nearly 5000 demountables across the state."
Mr Park said it was only recently that the Minister for Education, Rob Stokes reiterated that if re-elected, the NSW Liberal Party had no immediate plans to build a new school at West Dapto.
"In truth they have not spoken about or considered building a school here during the last eight years," the Keira MP said.
"We made a [$45 million] commitment in 2015 to build a school in West Dapto and now we've increased it to $60 million.
"Part of the reason we can do this is we are not going to be spending billions of dollars building new Sydney stadiums.
"The pre-budget update indicates significant downturns in revenue and increases in expenditure around health and education...yet you have a government spending billions of dollars on Sydney stadiums, which are at best a luxury item in this environment and worse simply irresponsible."
Ms Watson said Labor would also open a Service NSW Centre in Dapto if elected.
The Shellharbour electorate currently is the only electorate in the Illawarra that does not have a dedicated Service NSW Centre, forcing local residents to travel to Service NSW Centres in Warrawong, Kiama or Wollongong to access government services.
"I’ve been fighting for a new school and additional services for Dapto since I was first elected back in 2011," she said.
"The Liberals only ever had a plan for a jail in West Dapto – not a new school.
"This is a huge victory for our community.
"I challenge Rob Stokles and the Member for Kiama [Gareth Ward] to come back here and tell this community that a school isn't needed in West Dapto."
Ms Watson added a Daley Labor Government will also commission a feasibility study through Schools Infrastructure NSW to determine the need for a high school in the Flinders and Shell Cove area.
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
