Member for Willoughby Tim James has launched a community petition after the Minns Labor Government’s decision to cancel two vital new public schools that were to be built in Chatswood and St Leonards.

“I encourage everyone to sign the petition to send a strong and clear message to the NSW Labor Government that our community needs these new schools and such short-sighted cuts to our local public education must be reversed,” Mr James said.

“Our community is crying out for new schools. Cammeraygal High is turning away local students, schools are considering a return to demountables, and school catchments are being hastily redrawn to cope with the demand. New schools would have been built under the Coalition but under Labor they have been sensationally axed.”

“Our local schools are being set up for failure by this Government. It’s a betrayal of local families and a betrayal of our future. We need to set our children up for the future with access to quality public education, not cutting it.”

The petition is now available at www.timjamesmp.com.au/schools

The Minns Labor Government has decided it would not pursue the following two schools planned and invested in by the former Coalition government:

• a new 1,000 place public primary school at the former metro dive site on the corner of Mowbray Rd and Pacific Highway, Chatswood
• a new public preschool, primary school and high school precinct to be located within St Leonards

“There’s rightful outrage in this community over the Government’s decision. There’s a strong feeling of disbelief. Many have contacted me saying the government’s reasoning for these cuts just don’t stack up.”

“The NSW Government’s planning reforms are intended to drive significant population growth in areas such as Chatswood and around St Leonards and Crows Nest. These people will need schools. It’s a planning disaster to be pursuing high density housing without the infrastructure and services needed to support it.”

“Please sign the petition and let the NSW Labor Government know the new schools must be built and it needs to start delivering for families in the Willoughby area,” Mr James concluded.