The NSW Labor government says it has reached a major milestone in rebuilding education infrastructure damaged more than four years ago, with work underway in Lismore South Public School and Ngulliboo Jarjums Preschool.
The government said in a media release, ‘This week the school’s first building modules are lifted into place, as construction continues on the new permanent, flood-resilient facilities at the schools’ Phyllis Street site’.
‘The modules are being craned in and installed onto a flood-resilient steel platform. The first school spaces will be assembled in 47 separate crane lifts, with installation of the preschool and remaining classrooms to follow. The rebuild is expected to be completed in late 2026.
‘The new flood-resilient public school and co-located public preschool will include 13 state-of-the-art classrooms, a library, a multipurpose hall, administration areas, landscaping and outdoor learning areas, and dedicated indoor and outdoor learning spaces for Lismore South Public School Ngulliboo Jarjums Preschool.
‘The flood-resilient buildings have been designed to meet the long-term needs of preschool and primary school students in South Lismore and minimise potential disruption from any future flood events.
‘Enhanced planning powers under section 68 of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 have been used to fast-track the rebuild of the school. This is the third time these powers have been exercised by the Minister for Recovery to accelerate the reconstruction of a flood-affected public school, supporting the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver safer, more resilient learning environments for local communities. The Minns Labor Government is committed to rebuilding flood-affected schools in the Northern Rivers, ensuring schools are built back better for local communities.
‘Since 2022, 18 flood-damaged schools have been repaired or rebuilt in the Northern Rivers, including Tumbulgum Public School and Condong Public School, where students returned late last year.
‘Funding to rebuild nine extensively damaged schools, including Lismore South Public School, has been provided through the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, which is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
‘As part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to rebuild public education in NSW, the 2025-26 Budget is delivering $2.1 billion for new and upgraded schools in regional NSW’, they say.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
