SYDNEY PUBLIC SCHOOL SET FOR MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR EXPANSION

One of Australia’s oldest public schools will undergo a $53 million makeover that will almost double student capacity and create hundreds of jobs.
 
The expansion of the Fort Street Public School in Millers Point is the latest to be approved as part of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program. 
 
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the development at Upper Fort Street in Millers Point will boost the school’s capacity from 220 students to 391 students, create 229 construction jobs and 20 new operational jobs.
 
“Fort Street was established as one of Australia's first public schools in 1849. Its expansion and redevelopment will provide better teaching and learning facilities for students and teachers, as well as providing new and improved open space,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“The project includes the refurbishment of important heritage buildings such as the Fort Street Public School itself, the Bureau of Meteorology (Met) Building, and the Messenger’s Cottage.”
 
“It will also provide new open spaces for students to enjoy, including a new amphitheatre and central plaza as well as new roof gardens on top of the new southern buildings and the existing Met Building.”
 
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the expansion of Fort Street Public School is critical to ensuring long-term primary school demand is met in Sydney.
 
“The NSW Government is responding to the need for additional public education infrastructure by investing $6.7 billion over four years to deliver new schools and upgrade existing schools,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“This represents the biggest investment in school building in the history of NSW.”
 
This is the latest project to be approved as part of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program. To date, the program has created opportunities for more than 50,000 direction jobs and more than $25 billion of economic investment.