Major upgrades for two Dubbo public schools

Release date: 06 March 2024

Two public primary schools in Dubbo will receive major upgrades as the NSW Government gets on with the job of regional school improvements, including those promised but never delivered by the former government.

Orana Heights Public School and Dubbo South Public School are both set to receive multi-million dollar upgrades, including replacing buildings damaged in a fire more than two years ago at Dubbo South.

The newly announced project at Orana Heights Public School will provide students with new permanent classrooms replacing demountables, and upgrade 14 classrooms and four support class classrooms. There will also be an expansion of the school hall and an upgrade to the school library.

At Dubbo South Public School, the NSW Government is moving ahead with much-needed upgrades and repairs later this year, after a blaze in December 2021 destroyed several classrooms and a staffroom, with students moved into demountable buildings.

Despite the NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders and former Education Minister Sarah Mitchell promising in early 2022 to “deliver the new building block for the school”, barely any progress had been made on Dubbo South Public School’s new buildings when Labor was elected in March 2023.

The upgrades at Dubbo South Public School will include five new classrooms, including a Practical Activities Area, two Special Programs rooms, and staff facilities.

The project will also include exterior upgrades to the school site, including the addition of tiered seating, covered walkways, access ramps, carpark resurfacing and landscaping.

The NSW Government has invested $1.4 billion to improve school infrastructure in regional NSW, including rebuilding and upgrading 15 schools.

Thousands of regional families are also set to benefit from a record $769 million commitment to build 100 public preschools, with 49 public preschools locations in regional and rural communities.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to delivering new and upgraded facilities for Dubbo’s public schools, as part of our record investment in regional communities.

“Despite the former Liberal National Government promising to deliver for the families of Dubbo, students at both schools have spent years learning in ageing, or temporary classrooms.

“The NSW Labor Government is committed to delivering these projects for the working families of Dubbo, so they can enjoy high quality, no fee public education.”

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“I am delighted to see two public primary schools in Dubbo will receive upgrades under the NSW Labor Government.

“Regional communities routinely had their educational needs neglected by the Liberals and Nationals, but we are focused on giving regional children the best start in life.”

Member of the NSW Legislative Council Stephen Lawrence said:

“Investment in regional communities and their educational facilities is an investment in the state’s future.

“Students in Dubbo and across regional NSW deserve the best that their government can deliver.

“I am proud to be part of the NSW Labor Government, which has made a significant investment in building and upgrading schools across regional NSW.”

Artist impressions for planned upgrades at Dubbo South Public School