The Bungendore community can celebrate a major milestone today with construction getting underway on the new permanent high school in Bungendore, as the Minns Labor Government gets on with the work of delivering world class public schools for local families in regional NSW.
The new high school, opening on Day 1, Term 1, 2027, is located on Birchfield Drive and will feature 26 modern classrooms and 3 support classrooms, administration and staff facilities, a library, hall and canteen, sports field and agricultural plot, kiss and drop zones.
The temporary Bungendore High School will remain operational during construction of the permanent facilities.
The new high school is among a raft of new and upgraded schools the Minns Labor Government is delivering for families across the Monaro region, which also include:
- Jindabyne Education Campus (delivered) and new public preschool
- Expansion of Jerrabomberra High School
- New high school in Googong
- Queanbeyan East Public School new public preschool
- Queanbeyan South Public School new public preschool
These projects are part of the Minns Labor Government's plan to rebuild public education, with $2.1 billion in the 2025-26 Budget for new and upgraded schools in regional NSW.
In addition to delivering new and upgraded schools, Labor's work to rebuild public education includes putting more teachers in front of students, with teacher vacancies down 61 per cent and the number of cancelled classes nearly halving since the Minns Government took office.
Member for Monaro and Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:
"Bungendore has needed a high school for years and it is a great - long overdue - day for this community to see construction underway.
"Labor first promised a high school for Bungendore in 2015, the former Coalition government did nothing about it until making a belated and poorly considered commitment just a couple of years out from the last election. The result was community division and a saga of delay.
"The process the former Government put in place caused hurt in the community and I welcome the opportunity we now have to deliver a school that brings everyone together. Most importantly, this school will provide a wonderful educational environment for Bungendore and the region's students.
"I particularly want to thank Deputy Premier Prue Car - without her willingness to listen and sort out the problems, we would not have this great outcome.
"I also want to thank the Bungendore High School staff led by Principal Melissa Giddens, the P&C, parents and students for making the temporary high school work so well and for showing just how much it can benefit young people to get their secondary education close to home."
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:
"Families in Bungendore waited too long for a promised high school under the former Liberal and National government whose botched plans left the community divided and forced students to learn from cramped demountables while they waited for answers.
"The Minns Labor Government ended this uncertainty when Prue Car announced the new site and with major construction now underway, families can finally see their new permanent high school taking shape.
"This new high school is a major investment in the future of public education in Monaro, and will provide local students with a world class education in the state-of-the-art facilities they deserve."
Principal Bungendore High School Melissa Giddins said:
"Breaking ground is a really exciting moment for our school. It's the start of a great new chapter that's going to be beneficial for our students, staff and families.
"Our whole school community has been looking forward to this project, and we can't wait to see our future school come to life."
