The new Porters Creek Public School in Warnervale opened its doors to 83 students on Tuesday.
A $38M NSW Government project, the school encompasses 20 classrooms, a hall with Before and After School Care facilities, a library with two special programs rooms, landscaped external play spaces and a mini sports field.
Last minute changes to the school and the site that surrounds it were given the go-ahead by DPIE only two weeks ago.
Those modifications included: the deletion of a roundabout; changes to parking and the pick-up/drop-off zones; and separate incoming and outgoing driveways from Warnervale Road providing for one-way vehicular circulation throughout the carpark.
DPIE also approved the relocation of the approved soccer field and changes to the landscaping to establish a squirrel glider pathway, rearrangement of bus bays and pedestrian/student access point across Warnervale Rd and the removal of five trees on the site previously indicated as being retained.
Ultimately the school will serve 460 students, although it has been ‘future-proofed’ to accommodate 1,000 students in what is one of the fastest-growing areas on the Central Coast.
Located approximately half a kilometre from Warnervale Public School, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the school was built to cater for more students as population grows in the area.
“I have watched this school be built and I am so proud that Day 1 of Term 1 2022, the students, families and teachers will now be able to benefit from this state of the art facility,” he said.
The new facilities incorporate flexible learning spaces with moveable furniture and adaptable room configurations.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government has delivered seven new, redeveloped and upgraded schools for the start of this academic year.
“I want all public school students in NSW to be inspired when they come to school and excited to engage in learning that is relevant to them and what they want to do after they finish school. Having access to modern learning facilities contributes to that”, said Ms Mitchell.
Nicola Riches