Oct 2022: Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning and delivery of School Infrastructure NSW

The PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE NO. 3 OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL has recently released its ‘Report of the inquiry into the planning and delivery of school infrastructure in New South Wales’. A must-read!

The report highlights the lack of transparency and community decision-making in the planning process. It recommends greater community involvement in the early phases and calls for the abolition of non-disclosure agreements for PRG (Project Reference Group) representatives. Among many valuable observations, the Committee emphasises the importance of students having “a clear connection to nature” and access to school ovals to run around. It states that “no school should be allowed to develop as a concrete jungle”.

The parliamentary inquiry commenced with the asbestos scandal at Castle Hill High School, a case the inquiry found to be the result of excessive power being concentrated in the hands of the principal, following the abolition of policies that had previously enabled external oversight. The inquiry subsequently revealed shortcomings across a wide range of current school planning and delivery issues

The report shows that we are not alone in facing challenges at OGPS. It highlights that the current operations of SINSW are deeply flawed and inadequate, with some mechanisms existing only on paper.

We wish to thank the Committee for considering our submissions regarding OGPS, incorporating references to them in the report, and making representations on our behalf to the Minister for Education.

Consistent with the findings of the report, the current government’s responses to the Portfolio Report remained generic and non-committal. Only 8 out of 26 recommendations were supported by SINSW; the remainder received vague responses or outright rejections, leaving little hope for meaningful improvements in infrastructure planning and delivery under the current government.

Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning and delivery of School Infrastructure NSW

Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning and delivery of School Infrastructure NSW

Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning and delivery of School Infrastructure NSW

Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning and delivery of School Infrastructure NSW

Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning and delivery of School Infrastructure NSW

Parliamentary Inquiry into the planning and delivery of School Infrastructure NSW