Photo caption: Moree Aboriginal Education Consultative Group President Jason Brown, left, Moree Secondary College P&C Association President Kelly James, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Moree Secondary College Executive Principal Jennifer Bird and Moree Plains Shire Mayor Mark Johnson discussing the consolidation earlier this year.
Wednesday, 29 November 2023
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands has posed a series of questions to Education Minister Prue Car today in State Parliament, seeking information about what funding has been put aside to upgrade the Albert Street Campus of Moree Secondary College, ahead of the school’s full consolidation next year.
In December last year, following a request by the school community, Mr Marshall announced the then Education Minister had agreed to consolidate the Moree Secondary College onto one campus. In March this year, he announced the Albert Street Campus had been selected as the new home for all students and staff from day 1 of Term 1, 2024.
“Sadly, the school and wider community has heard very little from the Department of Education about the plans for next year, other than confirmation the consolation would proceed,” Mr Marshall said.
“The Department has drawn up plans for a major upgrade of the Albert Street Campus, refurbishing existing buildings and constructing new ones, but the school community hasn’t seen the detail and there’s been no announcement about funding to make it all happen.
“I’ve asked the Minister to provide details on what works are included in those plans, when thew work will occur and how much it will cost.
“The community is pleased to know the consolidation is locked in, but without any accompanying substantial building and improvement works at Albert Street, the fear is that students and staff won’t reap the full benefits of the consolidation.”
The college has been split between two campuses since the school was created 20 years ago, with the Year 10 to 12 students attending the Albert Street campus and Year 7 to 9 students at the Carol Avenue campus.
“The community has consistently advocated for all students to be together on one site,” Mr Marshall said.
“The consolidation comes in large part from the ongoing efforts of the P&C Association and the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), who have pushed for the consolidation since 2017.
“The time of students and staff moving from one side of the town to the other every school day, as well as wasteful duplication, is almost at an end – and not before time – now we need some commitments to major upgrade works.
“I’m hoping the community that through these questions to the Minister, the school community will receive some good news about the future of their school.”
The Minister has 35 days to provide answers to Mr Marshall’s questions to Parliament.
Mr Marshall’s question to the Minister for Education today was:
In relation to the consolidation of the two campuses of Moree Secondary College on the Albert Street site next year:
1. Can you confirm that on day 1, Term 1, 2024 all teaching, learning and school operations will occur at the Albert Street site?
2. What is the anticipated student enrolment of Moree Secondary College next year?
3. How many staff, as a full-time equivalent and head count, will be employed at the school next year, for:
a. Teaching staff;
b. Non-teaching staff
4. What new infrastructure and buildings are required at the Albert Street campus to accommodate the students and staff?
5. What funding has been allocated to construct new infrastructure and buildings at the Albert Street Campus?
6. What upgrades will be undertaken to existing buildings and infrastructure at the Albert Street campus to accommodate the students and staff?
7. When will these works be undertaken?
8. What is the cost of these works?
9. What plans does the Department have for the Carole Avenue Campus?
Hon. Adam Marshall MP
Member for Northern Tablelands
29 November 2023