‘South is home’: School plans unveilled

A LISMORE South Public School student summed up pretty neatly why the flooded school should be rebuilt at its current site.

“It’s been here since it opened,” Ellie Martin said. It can’t really be called Lismore South if it’s not actually in South Lismore.”

Wise words from the Year 6 vice-captain of the school.

Her views, and those of the broader community, have been heard, and the Education Department has revealed concept plans for the school’s rebuild in South Lismore.

The school was extensively damaged in the February 2022 flood, and students have been learning from demountable buildings on site after a short stint at other schools.

The new school will include 13 modern classrooms, a library, a multi-purpose hall, undercover learning and play areas, a games court, and a preschool.

Core facilities will be on the first floor, 500mm above the 2022 flood height, supported by flood-resilient structures. Access will be via lifts, ramps and stairs, and connected by an undercover walkway.

Minimising the impact of future flooding on the buildings means children can return to the classroom sooner.

Lismore South P&C secretary Samantha Sainsbury said rebuilding on the old site made sense.

“Everyone in South is like a little family. To have the new school built on the old site, I think is going to be perfect,” Ms Sainsbury said. “It’s easy for students to get to school, and for parents to get them to school.”

She said the students had great memories there, with many having parents who also went to the school, and siblings who will attend in the future.

“So I think it is perfect that they are building it back on the original site, because that is South’s home.”

Relieving principal Gaye Titcume said the school ran the Stormbirds program, which helps children after a natural disaster.

“We trained six people in it and it was going for 12 months where children got to take themselves out of it (the flood recovery) and go ‘What are we grateful for? We’re actually grateful we have our people with us’,” Ms Titcume said.

For the children and staff, this was important as many of them had also lost their homes and are still living with the impact of the flood.

School captain Beau Carey, 11, said he had so many good memories at the school, but the teachers and friends were things he liked the best.

The rebuild could take at least three years to complete, so the Year Six students will not get to use the new facilities. But they vowed to come back.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said it was important the community had the chance to give input about what the new school should look like.

“The release of these designs marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to rebuild and enhance Lismore South Public School,” Ms Saffin said.

“It is a pleasure to share this sneak peek at the designs with the students who will benefit from the new school facilities.”

Enrolment numbers at the school have been impacted by the flood, but the school is being rebuilt to cater to the pre-flood numbers, showing confidence that numbers will return.

The relieving principal had faith the school would flourish.

“We’ve got lots of love in this community,” Ms Titcume said.