The Baird Government has got another thing coming if it thinks it has avoided a political fight by announcing the relocation of Hurlstone Agricultural High School a month from Christmas and hours before State parliament rose for the year.
While it did avoid scrutiny in the parliament, local MPs have signalled that they intend to wage one of the biggest campaigns faced by the Liberal National government since it was elected in March 2011.
Anoulack Chanthivong and Greg Warren, the State Members for Macquarie Fields and Campbelltown respectively, have given notice of a relentless campaign against a government they believe has reverted to type and has abandoned the western suburbs.
They say that the “appalling’’ decision to take away a prestige school from Campbelltown is more evidence the Liberal and National coalition is once again just governing for the silvertails of the North Shore and the Eastern Suburbs and the bush.
Asked what they have in store for the government, Mr Chanthivong says: “This is only the start.
“Last week we were surprised, we were shocked by an appalling decision, a bitter betrayal of our community.
“The education minister, the same man who a few years ago said it would be a shame to do this when the Labor Government was proposing it, is the same man who now proposes the destruction of valuable open space.
“He proposes the loss of one of the best schools in the country for our local kids, and in return we will get more traffic with the new housing he wants in the land around Hurlstone.
Mr Warren hasn’t wasted any time since the announcement by education minister Adrian Piccoli last Wednesday.
“I fronted the education minister about it, and what a cynical decision it was with parliament about to rise, and so close to Christmas.
“I have also spoken with the University of Western Sydney,’’ Mr Warren said.
“I am continuing to consult and engage with the community to ensure we do everything we can to reverse this outrageous decision.
“I have no doubt this will be a big battle and will include a big protest meeting down the track, action meetings and a petition.
“We will not stop until we have this outrageous decision reversed,’’ Mr Warren said.
Both MPs have made it clear they want the entire decision reversed, which means Hurlstone Agricultural High stays where it is, as does the farm and all of the land around it.
“We want land to stay as a vital piece of open space for our region and we want the farm to stay as part of the school,’’ says Mr Chanthivong.
“Reverse everything, nothing less,’’ adds Mr Warren.
“What this government is proposing is massive overdevelopment.
“As for the school, Hurlstone has been here for almost 100 years and here is where it should stay for the next 100 years so our local kids can attend there.
“If the government thinks it needs money to make the school better, they should find it out of the education budget, instead of selling this important piece of land,’’ Mr Warren said.
The next state election is more than three years away, so the question is, can our campaigning MPs maintain the rage on Hurlstone over such a long time?
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I will not only maintain the rage but also my enthusiasm because this is a fight for every single person in our community,’’ says Mr Chanthivong.[/social_quote]
“Greg and I are united in our fight for our community, to protect this great school for the benefit of the kids of the south west.’’
Mr Warren is equally effusive in his commitment to the cause: “This is a government out of touch with the needs of our region and this decision will come at the cost of our local students who will no longer be able to attend Hurlstone Agricultural High School right here in Glenfield.
“We are taking this issue all the way, for as long as it takes.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“While I have breath in me I will fight to reverse this outrageous decision.’’[/social_quote]
How they can save it .
You go lads.. It’s needs saving not moved. Get all the help you can, there were many leaders to come out of that school, wrestle them up.. More hands the merrier I say.