Fast tracking new schools is welcome, but it’s not enough to keep up with population growth, says Camden Council.
The decision to cut red tape in the planning process for major builds, such as new schools, means upgrades at Gledswood Hills and Leppington (pictured above) will be delivered six months earlier than planned.
Council says that while these fast-tracked upgrades are a positive step, many Camden schools are already at or over capacity and, without further action, the pressure will only intensify.
It points out that Camden is the fastest growing local government area in the state, and its population is projected to increase by a further 80 per cent by 2046.
More than half of Camden’s residents are families with children, and the fastest-growing age group is zero to four years old, which means the pressure on local schools and education will only increase in the near future.
Newly elected Mayor of Camden Therese Fedeli has today reiterated council’s urgent call for necessary infrastructure investment as part of its advocacy campaign, The Time Is Now.
“The NSW Government’s commitment is encouraging but not enough to meet the scale of growth so, pardon the pun, but the time truly is now to make headway in this space.
“We need the State and Federal Governments to immediately prioritise planning, funding and delivery of new primary and secondary schools in the Camden area.
“We need to address capacity issues in existing schools, particularly the over-reliance on demountables which reduce open and play spaces.
“And we need to ensure school-related infrastructure is planned in alignment with new housing areas, so families get timely access to education locally.
“Cutting out red tape is a great step in the right direction, but Camden remains one of the fastest-growing regions in the state, and unless more long-term investment is committed now, our schools will continue to struggle to meet demand,’’ Mayor Fedeli said.
“We need to plan and build for the future, not play catch-up once classrooms are already full.”