The NSW Budget delivered significant gains for Sydney’s south-west, foremost amongst them funding for a new public school at Wilton New Town.
Peter Brennan, Chief Executive of Bradcorp, the largest landholder within the proposed Wilton New Town, said the Government commitment to funding infrastructure to meet the community needs of the fast-growing region was a welcome boost.
“The Government has recognised the importance of allocating funding to plan ahead for the education needs of the new community at Wilton New Town” said Mr Brennan.
“The fact that $100 million has been allocated to an upgrade of Picton High School will relieve the pressure on students and their families allowing time for the new community to develop and infrastructure to be delivered as and when needed. New schools and upgraded facilities will allow students to stay close to their homes, reduce travelling time and provide a better educational experience for community and its residents.”
The Picton High School upgrade will allow it to expand from a 1200 student capacity to 2000 with state-of-the-art facilities for teaching and learning.
Bradcorp, which plans to develop around 5500 homes at Wilton North, last year signed an agreement with Anglican Schools Corporation to establish an independent K-12 school beside the Lakes Precinct in the proposed new township.
Mr Brennan said education had long been a priority for Bradcorp over the 20 years in which it has been building new communities in the Wollondilly and Macarthur districts.
Bradcorp’s involvement with Wilton Public School at Bingara Gorge dates back many years. As the original landowner of Bingara Gorge, Bradcorp, together with Lend Lease, negotiated the donation of land to the NSW Government so that the much-needed school could be built. Bradcorp has continued to contribute to Wilton Public School through the Bradcorp Community Partnership Fund.
Established in 1998 the Bradcorp Community Partnership Fund has donated more than $3.4 million to the community, two-thirds of which have been directed to schools and education, including the Peter Brennan Chair of General Practice at the University of Western Sydney.
Bradcorp’s commitment to infrastructure at Wilton North includes a $178 million contribution to deliver:
- Protection of the freight corridor
- Off and on ramps to the Hume Highway
- Direct access on and off-ramp to connect to Bingara Gorge
- Funding for a bus interchange
- A road network that provides for efficient bus operation and bus access to Picton, Campbelltown and Wollongong with regular peak services commencing early and increasing to every 15 to 20 minutes as the population grows.
- Funding for the provision of land for a public K-12 school site
- Private K-12 school site (already committed with first stage of development)
- A major recreation lake at the heart of its development.
- Playing field as part of the district sports facility
- Four local playing fields