Hurlstone Agricultural High School has a long and proud agricultural tradition.
Its farm is home to an Ayrshire dairy herd that is the oldest in Australia.
The school’s other agricultural enterprises such as pigs and sheep have also been highly successful, winning numerous ribbons in events such as the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
But this historic working farm at Glenfield could be sold to developers if the State Government gets its way.
In a bid to save the Hurlstone Farm, students at the school have launched an online petition.
Students are seeking the community’s support to reach 500 signatures, in which case the NSW Minister for Education must respond.
Local MP Anoulack Chanthivong is backing the students and calling on the local community to sign the petition.
The member for Macquarie Fields says the Berejiklian Government has long been courting the idea of selling off almost all of the school’s green vista as part of its Glenfield Precinct Plan.
This would unleash a tidal wave of overdevelopment in the area, destroy vital green open space and irreversibly change the suburb’s character, says the Labor MP.
“The Hurlstone Farm and its adjoining land must be retained,” says Mr Chanthivong.
“It is imperative that plans for Hurlstone’s future take into account the agricultural and farming needs of the school.”
Mr Chanthivong waged a successful and hard-fought campaign to retain Hurlstone Agricultural High School at Glenfield, but he insists the fight continues to save the Hurlstone Farm and surrounding land from overdevelopment.
“I proudly support Hurlstone Agricultural High School students’ online petition to save the Hurlstone Farm,’’ he said today.
“They are genuinely concerned about their school’s future and firmly believe that the Liberal Government’s overdevelopment plans will jeopardise the school’s long and proud agricultural tradition,” Mr Chanthivong said.
The ePetition is open until Tuesday, December 29 and can be found via the Parliament of NSW’s website at https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/Pages/ePetition–details.aspx?q=0KzFZXDwn0jCQj2LfyKNBQ==
