Jones sets Minister straight on Murrumbateman school figures

Since 2012 I have been one of many voices earnestly advising you and the department that a primary school is desperately needed and justifiable for the growing town of Murrumbateman and surrounding district.

Murrumbateman is projected to grow to 6,399 by 2031 residents and this conservative figure is likely to be upgraded following recent subdivision and successful grants for water and sewage infrastructure projects (sewage is now under construction).

Close to 50 per cent of Yass Valley’s working population work outside of the LGA (3998sq km) yet early childhood is strongly supported and growing with three extra preschools and child care centres opening in Yass within the last 12 months and another expected to open in Murrumbateman in 2016. This is in addition to the existing Mecca pre-school and home day care businesses already operating in Murrumbateman.

Results from a formal community survey and earlier work done by Department of Education Planners projected strong pull back from the ACT if a local school was built, similar to that experienced in the highly successful Jerrabomberra construction. The recent department review provided no sound science to refute this earlier work yet deleted the projection as it did not support the denial of a school. I consider this a reckless and sub-standard effort from our public service.

Murrumbateman’s popularity as a cheaper market entry for home buyers and preferred residence for ACT commuters seeking a rural residential lifestyle fuels Yass Valley‟s high growth trend with a notable quantity of 17.3 per cent of our population in the 0-11 age group and 22.9 per cent in the parents and homebuilders age 35-49. This growth is expected to continue for the next two decades.

Planning models developed from the 2011 census data by NSW Planning & Infrastructure predict an additional 7,500 residents are expected to call Yass Valley home by 2031 (projection starting from 2011).

I consider this modelling to be on the conservative side given many green field sites throughout the LGA are under review for subdivision or already have been subdivided such as Murrumbateman (with dramatic potential for continued subdivision and growth) while supporting infrastructure such as a $12.2 million dollar water pipeline to service Murrumbateman (Federal funding recently announced) and sewage works (under construction now) was not factored in to previous modelling.

Also not factored in to the projected growth of Yass Valley’s population in 2011 was the recently proposed Parkwood development straddling the border of the ACT and NSW.

Within the decade it is expected to cross into NSW, adding another 5000 families/homes in Yass Valley which could seriously impact on NSW residents’ access to cross border ACT “left overs” of public and private education that our families struggle to secure.

To combat the department’s summation that Murrumbateman students are needed in the Yass system, I have provided below the current and population growth break down for Yass Valley.

Planning projections include 1020 lot yield within the township of Yass, expected to be taken up by 2019. Clearly Yass schools will struggle to cater for this expansion even without Murrumbateman’s growth and are already under pressure with feeder school Berinba Primary infrastructure such as amenities block and hall built for a student population half its current size. The hall is beyond capacity now to accommodate whole school presentation assemblies with parents and there is no scope on the site to extend the structure.