Our region's ongoing growth requires investment in our local early childhood education, and public primary and high schools.
Our region's ongoing growth requires investment in our local early childhood education, and public primary and high schools.
The education of our students and young people requires modern, accessible and state of the art facilities to provide the best environment for success. I am very pleased to see some much needed investment in our local education facilities.
Booragul and Teralba Public Schools have progressed significantly with the construction of two much needed co-located pre-schools.
The locations of the brand-new public preschools were selected based on consideration of educational need and demand, how children grow and learn, infrastructure feasibility, and insights gained through consultation.
The preschools are scheduled to open by 2027. Each school will advise the community when enrolment applications can be submitted, which is expected to be approximately 6 months before the preschool opening date.
See more on the Teralba Public Preschool HERE, and Booragul Public Preschool HERE.
Another co-located public early learning centre will be situated onsite with the soon to be relocated Cooranbong Public School in Watagan Park Estate. This is fantastic news for parents and children in the area.
Specific plans for the Cooranbong public school have not been released. You can read more about the project HERE.
Public schools in Lake Macquarie have not seen adequate investment in infrastructure for many years. As the electorate grows in population, the existing facilities at our schools are under increasing stress.
Cooranbong Public School will be moving to a new site in Watagan Park Estate in Cooranbong, solving legacy issues related to old facilities and accessibility at the existing location.
The new public school will cater to 750 students, approximately twice the current volume of students, which will better serve the rapidly growing local community. Our young minds need modern facilities to better reach their potential, and while it will be sad to close the doors on one of Lake Macquarie’s oldest public schools, I’m sure the move will benefit students into the future. More information on the Cooranbong PS relocation HERE.
Five Islands School in Booragul, which offers educational programs for students aged between four and 18 years with moderate to severe intellectual, physical and associated disabilities, is receiving upgrades to the pick-up and drop-off zone, expected to be finished by late 2026. More information on upgrades to Five Islands School HERE.
Lake Macquarie High School at Booragul has seen some amazing upgrades under the $50 million High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Partner School Program. This follows impressive results with the school seeing higher grades and HSC retention rates.
Works have included upgrades to food tech, hospitality, design and technology and woodwork classrooms, with support for vocational education and training (VET) programs. They have also gained a new marine studies lab and workshop, shade structures, refreshed school entrance and music recording studio. Works are in the final stages and will be fully completed in late 2026.
You can see more information about the project HERE
It is important our schools meet the current and future needs of our students. Strong Government investment is needed to provide comfortable, accessible and modern facilities for students to learn and thrive.
Recent figures have shown the Hunter, including Lake Macquarie, ranks the lowest in the State for HSC student retention rates. Great work is being done by our local high schools, but more support is needed from the Government to assist schools with year 12 retention and help them evolve to deliver diverse pathways and opportunities.
