Macquarie Fields MP Anoulack Chanthivong has called on the government to put the educational needs of Hurlstone Agricultural High School ahead of plans to sell its land to developers.
He’s written to the planning minister calling for an immediate suspension of Landcom’s Glenfield Precinct masterplan, to enable the iconic school to formulate a business case with the broader school community.
“It is essential that any plans for the Glenfield Precinct meet the needs of Hurlstone Agricultural High School first and foremost,” Mr Chanthivong said.
“The Hurlstone Farm and its adjoining land must be retained to ensure the school can continue its long and proud agricultural tradition.
“It is imperative that plans for Hurlstone’s future take into account the agricultural and farming needs of the school, including a fully-functioning dairy.”
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.
He says retaining the green open space is also vital for students’ well-being, particularly for those at the hilltop schools of Ajuga, Campbell House and Glenfield Park.
The students at these schools have special needs and the green vista is crucial to their schooling and overall well-being.
“The school community is rightly concerned that the masterplan for the adjoining subdivision will supersede a business case for the school. If this happens, the school’s agricultural future is in jeopardy,’’ the MP said.
“From the outset, the Liberal Government only ever saw dollar signs as it considered the Hurlstone Farm’s future and pursued its own greedy overdevelopment agenda.
“Once the green open space is sold off to developers it will be gone forever.
“Our community won’t stand for this.
“The preservation of green open space is also vitally important for our growing community, which is already bearing the brunt of overdevelopment.”
Mr Chanthivong said feedback from recent community consultation conducted at the school also highlighted the urgent need to upgrade boarding facilities and the importance of further consultation.
“The school community is demanding the government provide certainty over the school’s agricultural future, and this includes a fully-functioning dairy and working farm.’’
Help save the Hurlstone Farm and vital green open space by signing Mr Chanthivong’s petition to stop the sell-off of Hurlstone’s land at https://www.letsbackanoulack.com/petitions/save-the-land-at-hurlstone/
We’re selling our kids future, along with everything else