Parents from Broadwater Public School have resorted to a petition to get their school reopened.
Since the 2022 floods, the school has been closed with the students travelling by bus to Evans Head for lessons.
The petition was launched by the Broadwater Public School P&C Association today, Wednesday, March 6 with parents and State MP Richie Williamson meeting at the school site.
The petition demands that the State Government get on with the job of rebuilding Broadwater Public School.
Parents want the current and unnecessary development application before Richmond Valley Council to be withdrawn and for the State Government to issue development consent using the traditional method of a Review of Environmental Factors which is common practice for State Government public infrastructure projects.
Mr Williamson said people power was the best way to get the State Government to pay attention and override bureaucratic bungling that has stalled the rebuild for more than two years.
“I have already contacted the Minister for Education Prue Car, and asked her to intervene,” Mr Williamson said.
“It should be obvious that this is an urgent problem that can be fixed with a simple order from the minister. Having as many locals as possible to sign the petition will hopefully get the message through.”
Mr Williamson said the project could be completed in just eight weeks because it’s a prefabricated build that is almost finished, but School Infrastructure NSW has instead lodged a development application with Richmond Valley Council, a step that is not required for crucial NSW public infrastructure.
Broadwater Public School P&C Association secretary Emma Crethar said updates provided to the school community by NSW School Infrastructure in September last year advised parents the construction of the modular build school would only take eight weeks offsite.
“Despite these assurances, progress has been alarmingly slow, prompting questions about the reasons behind the extensive delays,” Ms Crethar said.
“The current abandoned and overgrown school ground is the first thing you see as you enter town and serves as a constant reminder of the devastation caused by the February 2022 floods.”
Read more about the push to get the school open here.
Physical copies of the petition will at the Broadwater Hotel, both service stations in Broadwater and at the bowling club.
Anyone can sign the petition, and if you’re out of the area contact Mr Williamson’s office on 6643 1244. Original signatures are required on all petitions.
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