State Member for Wallsend, Ms Sonia Hornery MP, has welcomed news that the Government will be spending $5 billion on constructing new schools as a result of increasing enrolments.
Last year, Ms Hornery called for more schools in the Wallsend electorate, particularly in the western suburbs where the population is growing rapidly, after it was revealed that a third of NSW classrooms are either at, or well above, capacity.
Across the Wallsend electorate there are nine schools that have a capacity of 100 per cent or above and another two schools are bordering breaking point at 95 per cent capacity or above.
Quotes attributable to Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
“This announcement is welcome news and I will be pushing the Government to look at schools in the western suburbs of the Wallsend Electorate, which are already at breaking point.”
“I have written to the Education Minister to see what works were in the pipeline for the Wallsend, Fletcher, Maryland area, given the rapid increase in population we are seeing.”
“Nine of the schools in the area are at, or over capacity, and there is a need for new primary schools in the Wallsend, Fletcher, Maryland area.”
“The Government has said consultation with local communities will take place early in the planning process and I will be making sure that our community’s voice is heard.”
“This Government has forced schools that are above capacity to make the difficult decision to either place more demountable classrooms on shrinking school space or continue teaching in overcrowded classrooms.”
“But what I don’t want to see is another level of bureaucracy. What we need is less bureaucracy and more actual building of the schools.”