The contentious amalgamation of four Murwillumbah schools into one mega-school has been abandoned, as promised by Lismore MP Janelle Saffin and then opposition leader Chris Minns if Labor won the NSW election.
The $100 million merger of four Murwillumbah schools was announced in October 2020 by the then Liberal-National NSW state government and was met with strong community opposition.
The merger was to see the two Murwillumbah high schools, Murwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School, and the two primary schools, Murwillumbah Public School, Murwillumbah East Public School, combined to form the single $100m Murwillumbah Education Campus. This was to cater for up to 1,500 students and to be placed at the Murwillumbah Public School site.
‘The upcoming re-opening of Murwillumbah High School, Wollumbin High School, alongside Murwillumbah East Public School and Murwillumbah Public School, on Day 1, Term 1, 2025, will mark the delivery of an election commitment by the Minns Labor Government to halt the former Government’s failed mega-merger project, which began four years ago,’ stated a press release from Ms Saffin’s office.
Community victory
Kylie Rose, former President of the Murwillumbah East Public School (MEPS) P&C, who was been one of the key community members leading the opposition to the amalgamation told The Echo, ‘Working together we saved Murwillumbah’s schools. What a wonderful example of a community victory.’
‘With the advocacy of our community and the support of our local Labor representatives Justine Elliot and Janelle Saffin all four of our public schools will remain open. It is great to see Labor delivering on the final part of their commitment with the demerger of the high schools.’
During the campaign to retain the four schools there were claims that there was a land grab going on by the LNP government as well as the revelation that the mega-school would see a reduction in overall staff.
On October 21, 2021 Minister Mitchell told NSW Parliament Upper House Question Time stated that staffing projections based on 2020 enrolment numbers indicate that, when combined, there would be 3.42 fewer teaching service positions and 1.262 fewer school administrative and support staff [SASS] positions in the primary school, and 15.5 fewer teaching service positions and 3.082 fewer SASS positions in the secondary setting (Source: Hansard).
Schools upgraded
Murwillumbah High School and Wollumbin High School have both undergone significant refurbishments under the Minns Labor government.
At Murwillumbah High School, upgrade works have delivered more than 40 refurbished classrooms and specialist spaces, including three science labs, two wood workshops, two metal workshops, and a food tech kitchen, a new darkroom, as well as a new Student Support Unit, refurbished school library and hall, upgraded front office, staff, and administration spaces, and outdoor areas with new landscaping and play areas.
‘As we look forward to welcoming everyone back for the new school year, we are excited to foster a strong sense of identity, pride, and connection within our new school community.,’ said Murwillumbah High School Principal Zoe Tiernan.
Further work will see the delivery of a new canteen and final landscaping works to the grounds throughout Terms one and two.
‘We have worked with the community to ensure our local schools were delivered the upgrades they needed, so all our students can thrive right here in the Northern Rivers,’ said Ms Saffin.
‘It is fantastic to see our four public schools returned to the Murwillumbah community. Returning our four public schools back to the community marks the completion of a key election commitment that I am proud the Minns Labor government has delivered for our community.’
Students at Wollumbin High School will return on day one, term one to a refurbished canteen, a refenced and repainted sports court, new football goal posts, refurbished student toilets, a new pottery kiln, and refreshed classrooms with new paint and carpet.
Planned upgrade works at Wollumbin High School in the coming months will include the relocation of existing music rooms to make way for a new specialist support unit with modern facilities.
At Murwillumbah East Public School, works are underway to upgrade the school’s ventilation and lighting. Further upgrades are planned for the school including for new classrooms, a new library, canteen, and facilities for specialist support classes.
At Murwillumbah Public School there has been investment in school maintenance works, with the installation of a new roof on the heritage-listed building in Block D, covered walkway extensions, and refurbishment of student toilets all now complete.
‘We are looking forward to a new school year, confident that we can build on the outstanding programs we have run in the last two years, receiving state and national recognition for their excellence,’ said Murwillumbah Public School Principal Les Daley.
Work is also underway to deliver new air conditioning in all classrooms.
‘It is great to see Labor delivering on the final part of their commitment with the demerger of the high schools,’ said Ms Rose.
‘The upgrades to Murwillumbah High are welcomed by the entire school community and I am sure we are all looking forward to the completion of planned upgrades for all of our local public schools.
I hope we can now put the previous LNP government’s merger debacle behind us and focus on rebuilding our beautiful small school communities.’
Janelle keeps hitting home runs. Take note noalition and green political party supporters, this is what being in government is about.
Rod, the Greens would have no idea of what being in Govt is about, and thank God for that. The Coalition has some idea of what being in Govt is about, but seem unable to deliver anything of consequence when they get there.
Well, yes indeed, still can’t get that local Norco Milk into local hospitals or get that local Hutley Bros Meat into local hospitals.
The useless Labor political party hitting home with more own ⚽ goals. This is what amateur and couldn’t careless governing is all about.
It’s so easy to pick something random not achieved to chuck mud, it’s a cheap rant.
And the results of one of the biggest and most deplorable community battles ever fought in Murwillumbah’s history, the community scores a great victory, but only because the Labor party supported our community. While the deplorable Nth Rivers Nationals and their uncaring detatched Sydney co-conspirator Lieberals, whom just ignored and steamrolled the entire community, score a massive and so well deserved fail! It’s not often the community gets a win against these LNP cartel, shonks and spives and the insatiably greedy billionaires that bankroll this uncaring cartel, but when we do, its sweet! Murwillumbah will never forget what the LNP cartel attempted to inflict on our community!
Shame on LNP and former administration this ill conceived and badly managed situation ever arose. So many students’ education has been severely disrupted. Many highly competent teachers have been lost and it has been extremely stressful for all concerned.
Studies already clearly showed school mergers are not conducive to positive outcomes in education or wellbeing. The supposed consultation process was trite and concerns ignored.
Hopefully the environmentally unfeasible design as shown has not been followed, as it is impractical and would expose everyone to the often severe weather in this region. Blazing sunshine and pouring rain onto a vast expanse of unprotected concrete would be ridiculous.
Sadly there’s now only one kitchen available for the very popular food technology and hospitality courses offered from years 7 to 12, can only hope there’s at least a textiles room and a theory room with adequate space, storage and resources as the students are very enthusiastic to participate in these active hands on activities that provide real life skills.
Glad to see there are still two woodwork rooms, but is there still a metalwork room? Valuable skills that serve students well in careers and adulthood.
Best wishes to all involved.
The Echo you may be unaware the intention was actually to merge all 4 schools onto the Murwillumbah High School site, not the public school. The Murwillumbah High site is flood prone at the lower end, and sited on a fairly steep hill not suited to the high density buildings that would have been required. Murwillumbah Public is an even smaller site on the side of a hill.
Thank you Janelle Saffin, Justine Elliott and the people who campaigned so effectively.
Hear! Hear!
Didn’t they want to take out some trees that had been planted fifty years ago or something for a carpark in the new school
Those who fought for the demerger have set public education in Murwillumbah back decades. They have robbed students of the chance to learn in modern facilities, with broad subject choices and in a system that could have supported them well into the future.
The Murwillumbah schools had a once-in-a-generation opportunity—a $100 million transformation that would have delivered state-of-the-art facilities, expanded subject choices and a sustainable future for students. But thanks to a loud minority , particularly local MP Janelle Saffin clinging to her dinosaur past, that opportunity was torched.
So, how’s the demerger going? Wollumbin High and Murwillumbah High now have tiny, unsustainable enrolments. Senior students have been left scrambling, with many forced into online classes—on campus, no less—because there simply aren’t enough teachers or resources to provide a full curriculum in both sites-this wouldn’t have been the case had the high schools merged and they would’ve been a full cohort to offer expensive curriculum choice. And from all reports, it’s failing and kids will soon be bussed between campuses!
This is what happens when fear of change trumps facts.
We had a chance to build something exceptional—an educational hub that would have attracted the best teachers, expanded subject offerings and provided students with the tools they need for success. Instead, we are left with a fragmented system that weakens the future of Murwillumbah’s young people with schools now siting in flood zones. This advocacy ensured that millions of taxpayer dollars will now be wasted on maintaining and repairing schools that will inevitably face future flooding. This is not just poor planning; it’s fiscal negligence.
And the worst part? It’s the students who will pay the price not to mention the schools now remain in a flood zone.