Port Stephens MP Kate Washington has used her first speech of the parliamentary year to make another case for the need of a state high school in Medowie.
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She has also called on the Berejiklian government to make public its plans for the public education in the area following the successful opening of a catholic high school on Medowie Road this year.
"The government should tell us what it plans to do with the Department of Education land that still sits vacant in Medowie. Will we see a 'for sale' sign on it soon? Is that how the government plans to fund the upgrades to the two high schools in Raymond Terrace?"
An Education Department spokesperson told the Examiner that the NSW government was committed to providing school infrastructure for a growing student population, which included planning to cater for growth in the Medowie area.
"Planning projections indicate that the best investment in school infrastructure for the area is to upgrade both Irrawang and Hunter River high schools. The Department of Education has started early planning for upgrades to these schools, including early design works and preparing a business case," the spokesperson said.
"There is a regular school bus service between Medowie and its designated high school, Irrawang High School, which has accommodation for enrolments from its catchment."
The spokesperson added that there were no plans or decisions made regarding the future use of the land adjoining Wirreanda Public School.
"The department analyses current and projected education needs to identify where additional accommodation may be needed to meet enrolment demand. As part of that work, land adjoining Wirreanda Public School will be examined."
Ms Washington said that becoming aware of a campaign 15 years ago for a public high school in Medowie was one of the reasons she decided to run for a seat in parliament.
Since that time the Labor MP has warded off challenges from Liberal candidates Ken Jordan and Jaimie Abbott and continues to hold Liberal governments to account on the long-standing issue.
"I sat as a P&C representative on a task force alongside local principals, a TAFE representative and other community members that put student outcomes first, a plan for public secondary schooling in Medowie operating in a collegiate way with the high schools in Raymond Terrace," she said.
"We were told by the department that when student numbers reached a tipping point the plan would kick in. Since that plan nothing has happened, despite Medowie's growing population."
Ms Washington accused the government of ignoring the plan created to cater for the growing population of Medowie. "The land that was purchased in 1983 by the Education Department for the purpose of building a public high school still sits vacant alongside Medowie's largest primary school.
"It is immensely frustrating to think that had Labor formed government at any of the past three state elections local kids would be sitting and learning in a local public high school in Medowie today."
Ms Washington agreed that both Irrawang and Hunter River high schools in Raymond Terrace needed upgrading.
"Both schools have great staff and great leadership. Student outcomes are on the rise and they are now close to capacity or beyond. They desperately need better facilities, more classrooms and better resources."
