NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell has announced that a new Wee Waa High School will be built on a new site.

“We are hoping to have students in the new school by the end of next year,” she said in Wee Waa on Thursday.

High students and staff were relocated from the former high school to the public school last year after health issues affecting students emerged.

The source of the health issues is still to be identified.

“The decision to go ahead with a new school on a new site gives certainty to staff and students,” the Minister said.

The new school, to cost ‘tens of millions of dollars’, will be a state-of-the- art facility to serve the community for generations to come.

Funding has been signed off by Treasury and the planning and construction will utilise ‘fast track’ technology, the Minister said.

“The Department of Education will now develop a design and continue consultation to deliver a new high school that meets the current and future needs of the local community.

The preferred site will be on land adjacent to the Wee Waa Public School.

“The preferred site for the new school is just across Mitchell Street, offering the opportunity for shared facilities,” Mrs Mitchell said.

The Minister said any concerns about the suitability of the preferred site would be covered with state- of-the-art geotechnical design and engineering.

Concerns have been raised that the area is low lying and prone to water lying on it.

Initial consultation on the preferred new site has been undertaken with the school leadership, Narrabri Shire Council, and key stakeholders including local Aboriginal groups, the Minister said.

The Wee Waa community will be invited to an information session on Wednesday, June 23, to find out more about the project scope and benefits, timeline and the design approach, the Minister said.

“Early planning for a new high school in Wee Waa has been underway since late 2020, when the high school closed and students were relocated to the Wee Waa Public School campus.

“The past year has been an incredibly trying time for the students and staff at Wee Waa High School,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Experts are yet to identify what is causing the health issues. But what is definite is that the school community needs certainty.”

Mrs Mitchell said she had been working closely with the school community and Narrabri Shire Council to resolve the issues around a future high school.

“We have said all along we would do whatever we need to do to support the school community.

“I have pushed really hard with the Treasurer to make sure the funding for the new school is secured,” Mrs Mitchell said.

“We are focused on what’s best for the students, staff and community.

“We want to provide world-class education facilities tight here in Wee Waa.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to build a state of the art learning facility for the future of our kids.

“Now that funding has been approved we can work with the council to get the building approvals to start building as soon as we can.”

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