New primary school and public preschool in Worrigee

The new site will provide a larger area for the new school and is closer to growing suburbs of Worrigee and South Nowra. It will also allow for a preschool to be built at the same site as the primary school.

Early planning for this project started with a review of the area’s demographic trends, catchment boundaries, heritage structures and the needs of the school community. 

Extensive consultation was carried out on the previous site, which was determined unsuitable due to its size limitations, close proximity to other primary schools and failure to address the growth in South Nowra and Worrigee. Several alternative sites were explored however, they were also determined unsuitable due to being prone to flooding and bushfires, and having site access constraints for vehicles and pedestrians.

The new public preschool will provide a safe and engaging environment for preschool children. It will feature three specially designed rooms and a quality outdoor play area to accommodate up to 60 children per day. It will also include an administration area, amenities, staff kitchen and storage.

The location of the new school will be carefully determined during the master planning process. We will consider the surrounding properties to ensure that the school’s layout maximises privacy for both the new school community and neighbours. The main school access is also being carefully considered and is unlikely to be via Greenwell Point Road. Landscaping will also be incorporated to provide natural screening and enhance the overall environment.

Construction on the new school is expected to begin in early to mid 2026, pending determination of the planning application. 

The school will be officially named prior to opening. In determining the name of the school, we will seek feedback from the community and the preferred name will then need to be gazetted with the Geographical Names Board and approved by the Minister for Education.

Intake areas are established approximately one year prior to new schools opening. The latest demographic data and anticipated growth trends within the community will be considered and the final intake area will be determined in consultation with local principals and relevant stakeholders.

A principal will be appointed approximately one year prior to the school’s opening. Teaching positions will then be advertised on the department’s internal staff portal and externally.

We have started assessing the existing traffic issues around the proposed site and are in consultation with Shoalhaven City Council to explore viable traffic management solutions based on our preliminary traffic assessments and Council’s Shoalhaven 2035 Community Strategic Plan. Our goal is to ensure safe pedestrian access to the school while minimising the impact on traffic flow along Greenwell Point Road and Worrigee Road. With the right measures in place, the completed new school will enhance safety for both pedestrians and motorists. Proposed traffic management measures will be subject to a separate approval process.

On-site car parking is included in the project. Its location and configuration will be determined during the design process.

The new primary school and preschool are being built to accommodate for existing demand and future growth in the area.  A separate investment is also proposed to upgrade the nearby Nowra East Public School, and hence no school closures are being considered as part of this project.

We are committed to working together with our school communities and stakeholders to deliver the best learning facilities for students. As the project progresses, we will continue to provide regular updates.

Formal consultation will take place during the exhibition of the planning application, known as a Review of Environmental Factors (REF). The REF examines the economic, environmental and social impacts of the proposed school development and the community will be invited to share their feedback during the exhibition period.