With the peak of a population boom not far away, will local schools start bursting at the seams – local MP Greg Warren fears that could be the case.
Mr Warren believes it could be a matter of time until schools in Campbelltown – like many others across the Western Sydney region feel the effects of too many pupils and not enough room for them all.
It was recently revealed that several schools throughout Western Sydney were well over capacity, some as much as 389 percent.
Mr Warren, pictured with local school children, said with the Macarthur region in the midst of a population boom, the NSW Government’s refusal to build any new schools in Campbelltown could create a similar problem.
“Thousands of new people are set to call Campbelltown home in the coming years so they need the infrastructure and services to cater for their needs,” he said.
“Our local hospital can’t keep up with demand as it is, our local roads have turned into car parks, and there are more and more public transport black holes that the NSW Government refuses to fill.
“When it comes to education, the situation isn’t much better.
“The Glenfield to Macarthur Corridor Strategy did not make provisions for a single new school in Campbelltown despite the forecast population growth.
“It just doesn’t make sense.
“We need to create school environments that are conducive to learning.
“But that’s impossible to do when schools are well over their capacity.’’
The Campbelltown MP has pledged to continue lobbying the government on the issue.
“I will continue to pursue this matter with the minister for education until a practical and sensible plan is put in place to cater for both existing and future students here in Campbelltown,” he said.
the Department of Education warned Campbelltown Council that there would be no room for children moving into the Mount Gilead development six years ago but from where I am standing there have been no new schools or extensions to schools built in the region in all that time.