The Hundreds of families in the state's south-east are closer to fee-free early learning, with contracts awarded to deliver four new public preschools.
The new public preschools will offer places for up to 320 children a week across the region, providing quality early education to give our youngest learners the best start in life.
These preschools will be co-located on local public primary school grounds, making drop-off and pick up easier for busy families and helping children transition into kindergarten with confidence.
Zauner Construction Pty Ltd will deliver the four public preschools, with construction expected to begin later this year and doors opening early 2027.
The four public preschools will be built at:
- Boorowa Central School
- Moss Vale Public School
- Queanbeyan East Public School
- Queanbeyan South Public School
They will join the recently opened Gulyangarri Public Preschool in Liverpool - the first new public preschool built in NSW in almost 20 years.
As the biggest expansion of public preschools in the state's history, these sites are part of the Minns Labor Government's $769 million commitment to build 100 public preschools by 2027, with almost half located in the regions. Site selection prioritised areas of highest need - including long-overlooked parts of South Eastern NSW - based on a rigorous selection process.
Once complete these 100 public preschools will provide places for 9,000 children across NSW to benefit from high-quality early education in their local community.
This is part of the Minns Labor Government's record investment to rapidly expand the provision of public early learning in NSW, backed by record investment in the 2024-25 Budget.
This historic investment is a major turnaround from the former Liberal National Government, which didn't build a single public preschool in 12 years.
Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos said:
"Access to preschool can be difficult for young families, particularly in regional areas, which is why we are delivering four new public preschools across the towns in the state's south-east in areas where they are needed most.
"The Minns Labor Government, with the advocacy of Deputy Premier Prue Car, is committed to improving access to free quality public preschool for our youngest learners because we know how crucial early learning is for a child's development.
"The former Liberal National government failed to deliver for young families in the regions and didn't build a single new public preschool while in office.
"The Minns Labor Government made this historic commitment to deliver the biggest expansion in public preschools in NSW's history because we strongly believe all children should have access to high-quality early education, no matter their postcode."
Member for Monaro Steve Whan said:
"Labor is delivering what the former Coalition government wouldn't - local preschools, local jobs and access to fee-free early learning for our community.
"I am very excited over government is delivering the public preschools we promised at Queanbeyan East and Queanbeyan South public schools. Both schools serve a population that needs additional affordable preschool options and it will help break down barriers to quality education.
"I look forward to construction getting underway for the new preschools shortly."
