3
November, 2013
The
Inner City Schools Working Party was established around a year ago following
the Minister for Education’s statement that the Ultimo Primary School was his
“top educational priority”. There have
been only around six meetings of this group since its inception; there have
been two chairs, so little continuity; and no progress reports have been
provided to the community whose concerns about the future of the school led to
the formation of the Working Group.
We
do not accept the excuse of “commercial-in-confidence” claims which underpin
the refusal to report back to the community.
We know where the available sites are and are not interested in any
discussions on price/valuations. All we
want to know is how the Department of Education is going to cater for the
demand for school places for children in Ultimo and Pyrmont, both next year and
into the future. The matter is
extremely urgent as already enrolments at Ultimo Primary School for 2014 exceed
the ability of the School to meet the demand without compromising even more of
the small amount of open space within the school grounds with demountables.
The
Working Group is also exploring opportunities for a new comprehensive Secondary
School in the Inner City. We have
proposed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and UrbanGrowth, that
such a school could be planned as part of the proposed Central to Eveleigh
development to meet the demand for secondary school places for Inner City
students. UrbanGrowth is developing an
ROI, the specifications for which will determine how this huge redevelopment
project will proceed. Will social
infrastructure such as schools be included?
Of
course, it is important to ensure that any new schools encompass integrated
facilities. In the case of a new Primary
School for Ultimo/Pyrmont, it is vital that it incorporates childcare and out
of school hours facilities and services, and that sporting facilities and halls
can be made available after school hours for local community use. New schools should also be safely accessible
by public transport, walking or cycling.
Pyrmont
Action’s membership includes parents of young children and they need to know
now where their children will be going to school in the next few years. The City of Sydney has committed $55M
towards the provision of six new childcare centres and has identified Pyrmont
as a high priority area. The City owns,
on behalf of the ratepayers, a large undeveloped site at the corner of Wattle
and Fig Streets. A contamination report
was prepared some four years ago, and around $4M was allocated in the City’s
budget for decontamination of the site.
This sum has since disappeared from the budget. It makes good sense for the Department/Working
Group to work with the City to plan for an integrated educational facility on
this publicly owned site.
We
have asked the Department of Education the following questions:
- When will
the Working Group will be able to report progress to the community on
meeting the demand for Primary and Secondary School placements?
- Is the
Working Group considering delivery of an integrated educational facility
to meet the demand for childcare, out of hours care and primary education
in Pyrmont/Ultimo?
- What action
will be taken to accommodate the 2014 new enrolments?
All
those with concerns about educational facilities for children in Pyrmont and
Ultimo and the Inner City are invited to write to:
The
Hon Adrian Piccoli, Minister for Education
Alex
Greenwich MP, Member for Sydney
Clr
Clover Moore, Lord Mayor, City of Sydney
Elizabeth
Elenius, Convenor
