HUNTER River High School is set to expand, however some members of the immediate community seem to have been left in the dark.

The NSW Schools Infrastructure website tells us, “A project is underway to upgrade Hunter River High School to bring students the latest educational facilities and support the local community.

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“The project will provide upgrades to the school including additional permanent teaching spaces and core facilities.

“Further updates regarding the Hunter River High School upgrade will be released as the project progresses.”

The site indicates that the benefits for the school community will be a new learning hub with eight support classrooms; a new double-height gymnasium; a new administration building; the internal refurbishment to existing buildings and learning spaces; upgrading of outdoor areas; and improved car parking and bus drop-off/ pick up areas.

However local residents are claiming to have been left in the dark with just a business card dropped in letterboxes for nearby properties with virtually no details or dates supplied to them.

The site goes on to detail the project’s status of being in the design phase.

There are concerns within the local community that there will not be sufficient time to respond to the DA if it is lodged over the busy summer holiday period.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington told News Of The Area, “These works are part of the NSW Liberal government’s plan to squeeze more students into the schools in Raymond Terrace so it can avoid its obligation to build a public high school in Medowie.

“Let’s be clear, our high schools in Raymond Terrace desperately need upgrades.

“But this isn’t a plan to improve what’s already there, it’s a plan to squeeze more classrooms onto those campuses.

“It’s a plan that will see students from Medowie, Tilligerry, Salt Ash, Karuah and surrounds, stuck on over crowded school buses for decades to come.

“And it’s a plan that will see students of Raymond Terrace getting lost in the crowd at super-sized schools.

“It’s a backward step for local students, regardless of where they live.

“Our community doesn’t know about these plans, because the NSW Liberal government doesn’t want us to know.

“If they consulted with us, our community would know they’re delivering a dud deal for our kids.

“Because when it comes to the provision of public education in Port Stephens, the Liberal government continues to fail our kids and our community.

“Everyone knows Medowie desperately needs a public high school, but the NSW Liberal government continues to deny it.

“The NSW Liberal government hasn’t consulted with our community, because they know their plan fails to deliver what our kids need and deserve – a public high school in Medowie,” she said.

By Marian SAMPSON