Councillor Mitchell Pakes put forward a notice of motion that supports the provision of an additional educational facility within the southern Shoalhaven region and that any future planning proposal to rezone the former school’s site is reported to council for consideration.

“I believe our community especially in Ulladulla, needs another public school facility,” Cr Pakes said at the ordinary meeting.

“The state member and the state government has our full support. Any plan to rezone the site must be reported to council for consideration and I will not support the rezoning of that site.”

Cr Andrew Guile was a former corporate affairs manager for The Anglican Schools Corporation. He said one of his saddest days in working for the corporation was when their board decided to close Shoalhaven Anglican School.

“At one point we had 540 students at the school and between Milton and Nowra we were serving 1200 families across the Shoalhaven,” Cr Guile said.

“I want to see that school remain as a school and not be carved up for any other purpose.”

Most councillors did not want to debate whether any future school should be private or public. However, the consensus between councillors was that the southern Shoalhaven needs a second high school and the motion was passed.

“To me it's a no-brainer, it has to stay as a school,” Cr Joanna Gash said.