If it was a report to the parents of the Department of Education on their project ‘Murwillumbah Education Campus development application (DA)’ then they might be tempted to burn it before it went home.
The criticisms contained in the report by staff of the Tweed Shire Council on the DA for the Murwillumbah Education Campus, which is proposing closing four local (two primary and two secondary) schools to erect one mega-campus, were significant.
‘There are a lot of shortfalls in this application,’ Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry (Independent) told the recent planning meeting on June 2.
‘I think it is important for everyone to understand that this [report] was created by the staff. There was no input from councillors. This is not for political gain, this is a very real response on what are the deficiencies in this application.’
‘There are so many shortfalls. We can’t do this at the expense of the residents of that area. We need to stand up for residents and get the controls to be met… I would like to talk to the Premier and ask them to consider altering the proposal.’
Independent Councillor Meredith Dennis was clear in her criticism of the DA.
‘I’m absolutely horrified at the planning of the school. The removal of trees, small inside areas… In Murwillumbah there is already gridlock coming over the bridge. The lack of consultation with the community – it is terrible. If this came to us we would have said “no” straight away, it’s dreadful.’
‘Councillor Dennis hits the nail,’ agreed councillor Reece Byrnes (Labor).
‘From the very beginning, this has been an arrogant decision made by an out of touch government.’
Liberal councillor Rhiannon Brinsmead congratulated the staff on their report and said ‘I think Madam Mayor you were being kind when you said it was deficient’.
‘I read it and my mouth dropped to the floor it was so deficient,’ said councillor James Owen (Liberal).
‘I think we should send it to the NSW Premier, Minister of Education and the two local state members.’
Saffin ‘rock solid’
State member for Lismore Janelle Saffin came out again in opposition to the mega-school amalgamation saying her support of the four existing schools is ‘rock solid’.
Ms Saffin said Tweed Shire Council’s damning submission and formal objection to the Murwillumbah Education Campus development application, combined with the school communities’ concerns, should be enough for NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell to scrap the Government’s ill-advised plan and heavily invest in existing schools instead.
‘My position has not changed; if anything, my opposition to this proposal – which is half-baked at best, silly at worst, does not contain a performing arts centre as touted from the original announcement all the way along, is vague on assessing flood impacts and is generally lacking in detail – has solidified,’ Ms Saffin said.
‘Some issues identified by Council include inadequate playing fields; indoor halls too small to be used as shared community spaces; a lack of shading for students; a 90-space shortfall in car parking spaces (which would put serious pressure on surrounding streets); and an incomplete bushfire management plan.
‘It all adds up to a half-baked plan which sells the local community short, prompting Tweed Mayor Cr Chris Cherry to say the State Government should be a “model applicant, but is flouting all of our requirements and at this stage is being anything but”.’
Ms Saffin noted NSW Teachers Federation Deputy President Henry Rajendra’s call for the NSW Government to immediately halt its merger plan, and engage with local parents and teachers to permanently protect the staffing entitlement for existing schools.
In Education Quarterly Online, Mr Rajendra said: ‘The issues raised by Council are in addition to the staffing cuts that will result when the schools are amalgamated. Primary school provision will, at a minimum, lose a classroom teacher, up to two assistant principal positions, a principal position and a reduction in teacher-librarian staffing.
‘The situation is far worse for high school staffing. It is predicted that at least 16 positions – 20 per cent of the teaching staffing entitlement – will be cut, including classroom, head teacher, teacher-librarian, careers adviser and principal positions,’ Mr Rajendra said.
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