fbpx

Students head back to classrooms after rebuild

October 2, 2024 BY
Flood restoration schools

Students return to classrooms in Northern Rivers after flood restoration work, with new flood-resilient designs at three schools.

STUDENTS from three Northern Rivers schools are back in their classrooms after the completion of flood restoration work.

Wardell Public School and Empire Vale Public School have been rebuilt using flood-resilient design, and flood repair work was completed at Mullumbimby High School earlier this year.

The performance space at Mullumbimby High School. Photo SUPPLIED

 

The historic Empire Vale Public School has been an important part of the community for nearly 150 years, and the rebuild allowed for the retention of the original school building.

The new Empire Vale Public School is flood resilient. Photo SUPPLIED

 

Principal Bonita Avery said losing the school in the 2022 floods had a huge impact on the community and they looked forward to starting a new chapter at the school.

Aerial of Empire Vale Public School. Photo SUPPLIED

 

At Wardell Public School, the newly rebuilt school includes four new classrooms, a new library, canteen, front office, administration and staff areas, and the continuation of Jumbunna Sugartown Preschool next to the school site.

Aerial of Wardell Public School. Photo SUPPLIED

 

Key resilience measures at the two primary schools include raising core school facilities off the ground on a steel structure, using resilient materials throughout the new buildings and designing downstairs amenities that were easy to clean and restore if inundated with water.

Students are happy to return to Wardell Public School. Photo SUPPLIED

 

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin welcomed the students back to the schools.

“These communities have shown tremendous strength in difficult circumstances,” she said.

close-img