Shovels have hit the ground on the 100th new public preschool being delivered by the Minns Labor Government, marking a major milestone in the biggest expansion of public preschools in NSW history.
The 100th milestone will be marked at Worrigee on the South Coast, where a new public preschool for up to 120 children per week is being built alongside a new public primary school to meet the needs of the growing Worrigee and South Nowra communities.
The public preschool will feature three state-of-the-art learning spaces, dedicated staff facilities, a kitchen, and landscaped outdoor play areas. The preschool will also feature separate access, welcoming local young learners from next year as construction takes place for the new primary school.
The new primary school at Worrigee will accommodate 550 students when open on Day 1, Term 1 2028. It will include 24 modern classrooms, three support learning classrooms, a multipurpose hall and canteen, covered outdoor learning area (COLA), library, sports court and staff and administration facilities.
The new school and preschool will cater for local families amid significant growth in South Nowra, which has seen a 150 per cent increase in new homes over the past decade.
The new public school at Worrigee will alleviate pressure on Nowra Public School and Nowra East Public School while also easing traffic in the broader area by reducing the number of students and parents having to travel across suburbs.
This project forms part of more than $250 million invested by the Minns Labor Government in new and upgraded schools across the South Coast, including:
- New public preschool at Greenwell Point Public School
- New public preschool at Sanctuary Point Public School
- Nowra East Public School upgrade
- Milton Public School upgrade
- Ulladulla Public School upgrade
- Ulladulla High School upgrade and
- Vincentia High School upgrade.
With work now underway at Worrigee, all 100 new public preschools being delivered through the Minns Labor Government’s $769 million investment are on track to open by early 2027.
Once the 100 new preschools, 49 of which are in regional NSW and 51 in Greater Sydney, are complete, up to 9,000 children across the state will be able to access fee-free high-quality early education in their local community.
The Minns Labor Government’s work towards delivering universal preschool access across the state is in sharp contrast to the former Liberal-National Government, which over 12 years failed to build a single public preschool.
The 100 new public preschool rollout forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education, backed by a record $9.2 billion school infrastructure funding, including $2.3 billion over the next four years for new and upgraded schools across regional NSW.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:
“With our 100th public preschool officially under construction, families on the South Coast are one step closer to having a brand new, free public preschool and a primary school next door.
“This milestone is part of the $769 million we’re spending across New South Wales to ensure every family has access to high quality early learning, no matter where they live.
“This is not just a line item in the budget. Every dollar we put into our public education system is an investment in the next generation and our state’s future.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
“Today marks a huge milestone for young families right across the state, delivering the biggest expansion of public early learning NSW has ever seen.
“Parents want to know their child is getting the best possible start in life, and that means investing in access to high-quality public education close to home.
“South Coast families are seeing that investment firsthand, with new public preschools and a brand new public primary school being delivered for the growing Worrigee and South Nowra communities.
“The Liberals and Nationals had 12 years and didn’t build a single public preschool – and we’re getting on with the job of delivering 100.”
Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:
“This is an exciting day for families in the South Coast, who are one-step closer to accessing world-class, free public early education right at their doorstep.
“We know how important early education is for giving kids the best start to life. This new public pre-school – the 100th delivered by the Minns Government – will deliver that for hundreds of families in the region.
“The Minns Labor Government is doing what the Coalition never did – investing in the essential services communities across the Illawarra and the South Coast need.”
Member for South Coast Liza Butler said:
“This is a landmark day for our community. Families in Worrigee and South Nowra have waited a long time for a local public school, and today we are breaking ground on that promise.
“The Nowra community continues to grow, and investing in public education is one of the most important things we can do to support that growth and give every child the best possible start in life.
“I’m proud to be here today to see construction get underway and I look forward to welcoming students through the doors in the years ahead.”
Worrigee Public School foundation Principal Chris Klein said:
“Our new school and preschool will be a place where high expectations and academic excellence are at the heart of every classroom.
“Our students will learn to read well, think clearly, reason mathematically and approach the world with curiosity and confidence. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in school, work and community life.
“I am excited to be here today to mark the turn of the first sod and to develop authentic collaboration with Worrigee families, our local Aboriginal community members, our neighbouring schools, and the wider Shoalhaven community.”