Labor has reaffirmed its commitment to building a public high school in Medowie.
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NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley visited the proposed site in Ferodale Road on Tuesday and said Labor would build a Medowie high school if the party is elected to government in 2019.
He dismissed comments made by Premier Gladys Berejiklian during a visit to Newcastle last week that her government had made a record investment in education and health.
“If you look at the figures, the Hunter’s schools are the most overcrowded in NSW,” Mr Foley said.
“If we can deliver a new public high school here in Medowie that can potentially cater for 1500 students or so, that will take pressure off other schools.”
A public high school in Medowie was a major priority for MP Kate Washington when she campaigned for the state seat of Port Stephens in 2015.
She said the school remained a priority.
“Children who were told they would be a part of the first cohort to attend Medowie high school have now got kids of their own,” she said.
“Medowie is growing daily, but the infrastructure just hasn’t kept up. There are at least five local feeder primary schools with a combined student cohort of almost 2000.
“To say that we don’t need a high school is ludicrous.”
The NSW government has owned the land earmarked for the school since 1982.
During the years, both sides of politics have expressed their support for the proposed high school.
However, the project has never left the initial planning and costing stages.
In March 2015, during the state election campaign, Mr Foley stood with Ms Washington at the proposed school site and committed to putting $40 million towards the project.
He confirmed in Medowie on Tuesday morning, two years after making the initial announcement, that Labor is sticking by this commitment.
“When the parliamentary budget office opens their doors around this time next year in the lead up to the election we’ll talk to them about appropriate costings,” Mr Foley said.
“The funds that will be needed to build a public high school in Medowie will be delivered.”