Minister outlines progress on Northern Rivers education recovery

DEPUTY Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car, has addressed the ongoing recovery of critical education infrastructure in the Northern Rivers during last week’s Parliamentary Question Time.

Ms Car responded to a question from MP Janelle Saffin, commending her as a “tireless, fearless advocate” for the region.

She acknowledged that, two years after the floods, the recovery effort is still underway.

“We still have many families and many regions doing it tough, and we still need to support them,” Ms Car said.

“The Premier has said many times we’re in for the long haul. It’s taking a while to get these communities back on their feet, and in education, we are committed to making sure that we do that.”

Ms Car said that while the recovery process has taken longer than expected, there is now a clear plan to restore permanent school facilities.

“It means we have a clear path to getting students back into their permanent school ASAP,” she said.

“I look forward to updating the communities from Condong and Tumbulgum to Richmond River as these critical projects progress.”

The minister also acknowledged that it was not only the natural disaster that had tested the Northern NSW communities.

“In Murwillumbah, the community has been through quite a lot of change in education and the Member for Lismore and I have worked hand in hand to make sure that we get on top of the educational needs in those communities because of a failed merger of four schools into one big mega school, which was announced with no consultation with the local community,” she said.

From the start of term one next year, Wollumbin High and Murwillumbah High will reopen as two separate schools.

Zoe Tiernan has been appointed principal of Murwillumbah High, while Kelly Spilstead will lead Wollumbin High.

“It brings to an end a failed experiment, and it really does give some certainty to the community that has been through a lot,” Ms Car said.