Remediating, repairing and rebuilding flood-affected schools
The NSW Department of Education coordinates the emergency, recovery and resilience response to support flood and weather-impacted school communities across the state.
Central, Western, and Northern regions
Flooding and weather events in late 2022 impacted several schools in the Central and Western regions.
School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW) is continuing to support impacted schools to be open for learning. The remediation of affected sites remains our priority.
The following schools are now operational, and we are continuing to repair damage:
- Molong Central School’s agricultural plot (which is on a separate site to the school itself) suffered significant damage during the floods. The agricultural farm is now made safe and has been isolated via temporary fencing. We are working with Molong Central School to fully remediate and reopen the farm.
- Bedgerebong Public School was isolated due to flooding in the area, but the school was not directly impacted. The school is now fully accessible.
- Eugowra Public School was affected with external flooding to grounds. The clean-up and repairs to fencing and other external areas have been successfully completed.
- Eugowra Community Children's Centre (ECCC) was significantly impacted by flooding on 14 November 2022, and the site has been non-operational since this incident. A temporary facility for ECCC has been established within the Eugowra Showground and will be operational in Term 1 2023. We are working with ECCC, Cabonne Council and other key partners plan a new permanent facility. Visit our ECCC updates page for more information.
- Forbes Public School was significantly impacted. A temporary school was constructed and opened to students on for the first day of Term 1 2023, with only minor works remaining. We have now turned our attention to remediating the original site, as we continue an in-depth assessment of the buildings and plan for full remediation of the school following the flood damage. Many of the buildings are salvageable and will be restored.
- Condobolin High School had damage limited to the sport field, and several sheds and pump motors. We worked closely with school leadership teams so that all students returned to onsite teaching and learning on Day 1 Term 1 2023.
- Moree Secondary College, Albert Street campus had an extensive external site clean-up process prior to Term 1 starting, and the school is fully operational. Air conditioning units suffered water damage in several classrooms. Temporary cooling has been installed and units will be permanently replaced via an insurance claim.
Northern Rivers region
Planning is underway to rebuild nine schools that were extensively damaged by floods in February and March 2022. At this stage, rebuilding these schools is expected to be complete in 2024, subject to weather and site conditions.
These schools are:
- The Rivers Secondary College, Richmond River High Campus
- Lismore South Public School
- Cabbage Tree Island Public School
- Broadwater Public School
- Wardell Public School
- Empire Vale Public School
- Blakebrook Public School
- Condong Public School
- Tumbulgum Public School
Work is also underway on major repairs to another seven schools that sustained large structural damage to classrooms, school buildings and grounds during the floods:
- Lismore Public School
- Wyrallah Road Public School
- Mullumbimby High School
- Mullumbimby Public School
- Crabbes Creek Public School
- Main Arm Upper Public School
- Maclean High School.
We will continue to work directly, with the affected schools and Principals to ensure they have the infrastructure services and support they need while rebuilding and repairs are underway.
For repair and remediation works underway at individual schools, please click the tabs below to read the latest update.
Nine 'extensive' damaged schools will be rebuilt by our major works team. The schools, which sustained significant structural damage, will be built back better and support the long term educational needs of the community.
Seven 'large' damaged schools require significant remediation, repair or refurbishment works which will be managed by the NSW Public Works Advisory. Where possible, buildings will be made more flood resilient and there are opportunities to improve the design and layout of new and refurbished facilities.
Five ‘moderate’ damaged schools require remediation works to areas of the school sites and building and are being delivered by the local School Infrastructure office. As a precautionary measure, teams will continue to conduct ongoing surveillance activities of flood impacted areas of the schools.
Non-operational schools
Get up-to-date information on schools that have temporarily ceased operations due to adverse weather, bushfire, emergencies or other incidents.
