Letter to the Regional Independent

The Bungendore High School Action Group (BHSAG) wish to congratulate the Regional Independent newspaper for the informative and balanced reporting of the recent announcement by Deputy Premier and Member for Monaro John Barilaro and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell of the government’s preferred site for the new Bungendore High School.

This NSW Government decision was welcomed by many families in Bungendore, who have lobbied extensively for years for a local high school – these families include grandparents, who have lobbied for their children and more recently for their grandchildren. As your reporting outlined however, some in the community have reservations about the location of the new school and the implications of placing it within the town and next to the primary school and oval.

Schools Infrastructure NSW have initiated a community survey, so the community have the opportunity to provide initial views and ask questions about the future high school. In our experience, from Friday's announcement and from our meeting with NSW Schools Infrastructure officials September last year, we have found the professionals charged with bringing this government project to fruition to be open to ideas and opinions from the community.

We encourage everyone to seek accurate information about the proposed plans for both the primary and high school developments in Bungendore. You can do this by visiting the Department of Education’s website. We also recommend visiting the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council’s website for useful information on how the proposed changes will impact local community facilities. If you have any further questions, please contact schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au.

The announcement that a high school will be built in Bungendore is a great benefit for both children and their families. It will help Bungendore become a community hub for the surrounding region and will provide a much-needed boost to local business and the economy going forward.

Whilst it is essential that the views of the whole community be heard regarding this vital addition to Bungendore's community infrastructure, we ask that those views be made on an informed basis and with respectful consideration of others’ opinions and differences.

Yours faithfully The Bungendore High School Action Group

Regional Independent Editor’s note:

An online survey is available until 11 September 2020. It is a series of questions that relate to only one part of the planning phase. You can comment at the end of the survey. The survey can be found here: www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects/n/new-high-school-in-bungendore.html

The next steps are to continue with the planning of the project, finalise the master planning process and submit a business case to NSW Treasury.

Once a preferred concept design is approved, workshops with school and the local community will occur.

You can also email School Infrastructure NSW at schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au

Regional Independent article from 19 August 'Bungendore High School concept plans announced'