Photo caption: Delungra Public School Principal Toni Withers, left, Student leader Lachlan Savage and Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall.
Tuesday, 29 March 2022
A NEW shed at Delungra Public School will give students additional space to carry out their famous koala rescue and environment projects, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall recently visiting the school to check in on the build’s progress and the latest furry tenants.
The new shed has been funded through the State Government’s Regional and Metro Renewal COVID-19 stimulus program.
Mr Marshall said every emergency service needed a solid station to work out of.
“Since the drought, Delungra Public School has become a safe haven for local koalas – with a family currently at home on the grounds,” Mr Marshall said.
“The passion for the school’s koala rescue project has seen it go from strength to strength – so much so students have run out of space for all their tools.
“The new storage shed will be a welcome addition, providing a lockable area for all manner of environmental, sports and school equipment.
“The Regional and Metro Renewal Program has allowed this project to be fast-tracked, ensuring students can continue their important work.”
In 2020, the State Government provided Delungra Public School with a $14,522 environment grant to install a small greenhouse, where students could propagate native plant seedlings, to help regenerate koala food habitat following the drought.
Principal Toni Withers said the school body was very excited to have the new building.
“It will allow our school to purchase more sporting equipment for our students as we had outgrown our last building,” Ms Withers said.
“Another welcomed addition is having a designated space for the propagating equipment for our Koala Rescue Project and student gardening supplies. This will enable our students to expand their environmental work.”
School leader Lachlan Savage said the shed had lots of practical benefits.
“We will have a lot more space to store our sports equipment and gardening tools and it will be easier to organise and use,” Lachlan said.
“The roller doors will be good for our high jump mats.
“We have loved watching the building progress and can’t wait for it to be finished.”
The Regional and Metro Renewal is a co-funded program, based on the ability of a school to contribute up to 50 per cent of the total project cost.