THE long-awaited installation of a security fence at Shellharbour Public School is now an election commitment from Labor if Anna Watson is re-elected on March 28.
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Shadow Minister for Education, Ryan Park MP and member for Shellharbour Anna Watson announced the commitment last week as well as a “scoping study” into the development of a new high school at Flinders.
Ms Watson, said she was “thrilled” the shadow minster had responded to the needs of the community.
“Ryan is a Shadow Minister who really listens to community concerns, and I’m pleased that he could see the need for a security fence at Shellharbour Public School and to commission a study for the future needs of a high school in Flinders,” she said.
“I also want to recognise the efforts of the Shellharbour Public School Parents and Citizens Association, who have campaigned long and hard for the need for a security fence to protect the assets of one of the oldest public schools in the Illawarra region.
“The Shellharbour Public School P&C gathered a 1000 signatory petition and have been passionate about the need for this security fence.
“I have raised it with the Minister for Education personally and on the floor of the Parliament.
Mr Park said the new security fence worth up to $119,000 would stop incidents of vandalism and graffiti to the school’s buildings, other facilities and grounds.
“The funding for the new security fence will be set aside from Labor’s $1.3 billion Building the Schools of the Future policy,” he said.
Mr Park said the proposed study on a new school in Flinders was in response to population growth.
“Last week, Anna Watson and I announced a new $44 million state-of-the-art modern high school would be built at West Dapto, if Labor is elected in March.
“We also recognise that the Flinders area, with its continuing population growth, may need an additional public high school over the next few years.
“The study will be an important component in planning for new school infrastructure in Shellharbour City”, Mr Park said.
Ms Watson said that many parents in the Flinders had raised the need for a new high school in the area.
“The scoping study announce today will give us some guidance on the population catchment which would make up any possible new high school in the Flinders area and I look forward to seeing its findings”, she said.