As students scuttled into an already cramped Ulladulla High School to begin the new school year this week, sad news arrived that calls for a second high school in the Milton-Ulladulla region have been rejected by the Department of Education.
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In a letter obtained exclusively by the Milton Ulladulla Times, Minister for Education Rob Stokes said there would not be a second high school opened in the area, despite ongoing calls from the community for a new one.
News of the letter has left South Coast MP and Speaker of the House Shelley Hancock “speechless”.
Mrs Hancock said she was not aware of the decision until she was approached by the Times for comment.
“I have never felt so furious about an issue in my whole political life,” she said.
This was a no brainer, but maybe the education department has got no brain?
- Shelley Hancock
“One of the reasons I stood for politics in the first place was because of the 32 demountables at Ulladulla High School that were encroaching on outdoor space.
“This was a no brainer, but maybe the education department has got no brain?
“I will not have the southern part of the Shoalhaven ignored and treated this way.
“I am ashamed of the government, ashamed.”
The letter, dated December 8, 2017, is addressed to Federal Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis and is a response to enquiries she made to Federal Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham on the need for a new school in the southern Shoalhaven.
Funding and approval needed to build, open or purchase a school falls with the state government so Mr Birmingham referred the questions to Mr Stokes.
“I am advised that the NSW Department of Education’s demographic projections indicate there is currently insufficient demand for a new school in Ulladulla or Milton,” Mr Stokes said in the letter.
Despite demountable classrooms being installed at Ulladulla High School and Ulladulla Public School to cope with the now yearly increase in student numbers, Mr Stokes said student numbers were in fact decreasing.
This statement comes amid a growing list of subdivisions being approved in Ulladulla, Milton, Narrawallee and Dolphin Point, ongoing growth of the region’s population and the increasing popularity of the area with young families.
“Projections indicate that enrolments at the three government schools serving the communities – Milton Public School, Ulladulla Public School and Ulladulla High School – will decline to 2031,” he said.
The number of students currently enrolled at the three government schools sits at approximately 2645, which includes some 1200 students at Ulladulla High School, which once peaked at 1280.
I’ve got a meeting with the minister next week because I want to see the figures on declining enrolments.
- Shelley Hancock
No date or timeline was given by Mr Stokes for the reduction of these 600-odd students.
Mrs Hancock said she didn’t believe enrolments in the region are declining “for a minute.”
“I’ve got a meeting with the minister next week because I want to see the figures on declining enrolments,” she said.
“Milton Public is overcrowded, but falling enrolments and we have more demountables delivered [to Ulladulla Public School and Ulladulla High School].
“Whether this is just bureaucratic bungling or what, I don’t know.
“If I am not satisfied with that meeting then I will get up in parliament to discuss it.
“I will also raise with the minister that he has written this type of letter without consulting me.”
Mr Stokes said the Education Department routinely monitored population and development trends, and plan school developments and expansions as needed to meet student numbers.
“To do so, the department consults with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, local councils, UrbanGrowth NSW and local developers,” he said in the letter.
“The department will investigate the future education infrastructure needs in the Shoalhaven area and consider the need to provide new schools or expand existing schools to address changing enrolment demands.”
The decision comes as a community petition calling on the state government to purchase land on Croobyar Road, Milton, where the now defunct Shoalhaven Anglican School [SAS] sat, for a second high school has gained more than 6000 signatures.
It was hoped 10,000 people would sign the petition, put forward by Mrs Hancock last year, and it would be discussed in parliament in the first half of the year.
Second high school petition coordinator Grant Schultz said he was surprised by the news when approached by the Times for comment.
“I don’t agree with [Mr Stokes’] position and projections,” he said.
“I think it is reasonable the community expects that in a first world country they have first world facilities.
“Long-term demountable buildings are not first world facilities and do not contribute towards a good learning environment for our children.
“If there is no need for a second high school, then why has there been longstanding demountables at the high school for in excess of 20 years?”
Mr Schultz said he still “firmly believes” there is the strong need for the state government to purchase the SAS land for a second high school and will continue with his petition.
“I understand there are competing proprieties for a limited budget across the state, but this area is well overdue for infrastructure investment in our local schools,” he said.
“It is not the building of a new school, it is the purchase of an existing school that’s ready to operate.”
Shadow Minister of Education and former Ulladulla High School teacher Jihad Dib said he “could not believe” Mr Stokes’ decision.
The community has a right to be very disappointed that it hasn’t happened, especially when you consider that representations have been made.
- Jihad Dib
“I think what’s pretty clear here is that there is a sensible argument for this site be be acquired and turned into an education facility,” Mr Dib said.
“A great opportunity is presenting itself for them to acquire a facility that is ready made and to do something to support the future.
“To me it doesn't make sense.”
Mr Dib flagged Labor’s support for the government purchase of the Milton land in September last year, noting schools in the area were “bursting at the seams”.
Mr Dib, who left his position at the Ulladulla High School in 2001, said the population had grown in the area since then and did not believe Mr Stokes’ assertion that enrolment rates were declining.
“I am very, very surprised that the minister has said there is no need for it,” he said.
“I was in the area a month ago and there was more new land developments at Dolphin Point and along Matron Porter Drive.
“These are young families moving in, so I am surprised the government is saying there is no need.
“There is an opportunity here that has community support and makes perfect sense.
“The community has a right to be very disappointed that it hasn’t happened, especially when you consider that representations have been made.”
