Opening up school ovals and playgrounds for community use as part of $290 million package

Published: 10 Apr 2018

After a successful NSW Government trial over summer, more than 80 public schools will throw open their gates these school holidays to allow everyone in the community to enjoy their playgrounds, ovals and sports courts.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes launched an expanded Share Our Space Program at Taverner’s Hill Infants School today that will provide access to enjoy 81 school playground during the coming school holidays.

The $30 million Share Our Space Program follows Monday’s $120 million commitment to secure strategic open spaces for public use and to build more than 200 new and improved playgrounds. The announcements form part of the NSW Government’s new $290 million Open Spaces and Green Sydney package, with more announcements to be revealed in coming days.

“The trial last summer was so successful we are delighted to be extending it to almost double the number of schools next holidays, giving families more options to use valuable open space in communities right across the State” Ms Berejiklian said. “It has never made sense to me that schools are locked up over the holiday period. I’m pleased we are taking action to address this.”

Mr Stokes said school playgrounds are valuable assets and by making them accessible outside of the school term they can provide a broader benefit to the whole community, including opportunities for sport on school ovals.

“We learned a lot from the pilot program – kids don’t want to be stuck indoors during the holidays, and communities respected and welcomed having access to their outdoor school facilities,” Mr Stokes said.

Participating schools will receive a $5000 grant that they can use to help upgrade their facilities for community and school use. The playgrounds will be open from 8am to 6pm, 7 days a week, from 16 to 27 April 2018.

The following schools will be participating. To locate these schools on a map, go to https://schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/

Arcadia Vale Public School	Campbelltown Performing Arts High School
Avoca Beach Public School	Cecil Hills High School
Belmont High School	Chipping Norton Public School
Eagle Vale High School	Condell Park Public School
Windsor High School	Walters Road Public School
Cessnock West Public School	Granville Boys High School
Charlestown East Public School	Granville South Public School
Dudley Public School	Miller Public School
Dungog Public School	Strathfield South Public School
Garden Suburb Public School	Tahmoor Public School
Glendore Public School	Warwick Farm Public School
Gresford Public School	Bowral Public School
Greta Public School	Lake Heights Public School
Hunter River High School	Windang Public School
Hunter School of Performing Arts	Bridge Road School
Kincumber Public School	Cronulla South Public School
Kulnura Public School	Green Square School
Lisarow Public School	Heathcote Public School
Millfield Public School	La Perouse Public School
New Lambton Heights Infants School	McCallums Hill Public School
New Lambton South Public School	Mortdale Public School
Newcastle East Public School	Sydney Technical High School
Redhead Public School	Taverners Hill infants School
Speers Point Public School	Tharawal Public School
Tarro Public School	Undercliffe Public School
Wangi Wangi Public School	Blaxland High School
Wirreanda Public School	Emu Heights Public School
Asquith Boys High School	Grose View Public School
Beauty Point Public School	Hambledon public school
Melrose Park Public School	Kurrajong East Public School
Mona Vale Public School	Lapstone Public School
Mount Kuring-gai Public School	Macdonald Valley Public School
Narrabeen North Public School	Megalong Public School
Narrabeen Sports High School	Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
Newport Public School	Pitt Town Public School
Seaforth Public School	Plumpton Public School
St Ives Park Public School	Quakers Hill Public School
Wheeler Heights Public School	Rydalmere East Public School
Bargo Public School	Rydalmere Public School
Belmore South Public School	Seven Hills West Public School
Bringelly Public School