It’s great to see the New South Wales government continuing with plans to rebuild Willyama High School. They recently won a record $56.4 million funding allocation in their 2025-’26 state budget. This funding is an exciting milestone for this collaborative effort that has been more than a year in the making. The school had suffered over a year and a half of quarantine due to toxic mould discovered inside its walls. Construction is slated to start in early 2019. By the beginning of 2027, the school is expected to be serving more than 730 students.
The announcement that funding is on the way follows the release of a new redesign of the school’s plan, released to the community late last week. This new plan aims to address previous concerns regarding inadequate classroom layouts and limited learning resources, ensuring that the educational environment meets the needs of its future students.
Community Involvement and Feedback
As the new Far West Director of Educational Leadership, Peter Macbeth said, He is excited to work with this community. He stated, “It’s a really exciting and incredible thing for the community and it’s gaining lots of positive momentum.” He is committed to working with local stakeholders. This commitment demonstrates his continued desire to construct a school that the entire community can be proud of.
In February this year, a Willyama Parents and Citizens (P&C) group was established. They’ve been tireless in bringing attention to the community’s fears for the school’s future. Kirby Allen, president of the organization and the parent of an incoming Year 7 student, applauded the new redesign. It’s larger and a lot better laid out than what was presented in March,” he said. This all-star feedback from current school parents reflects the community’s deep and continued commitment to the school’s growth and success.
Funding Challenges Ahead
As Barwon MP Roy Butler pointed out, despite the hundreds of millions of dollars committed by the state government, the amount they’ve allocated won’t even rebuild a fraction of the cost. He thinks the eventual total will be as high as $100 million. We realized eight to ten months ago that this needed to be a $90 million project. Unfortunately, these kinds of builds require time and can’t be done just like that,” he said. The federal government typically stretches out funding for big infrastructure projects. As execution expands beyond mere design, it’s imperative to get more money behind these ambitious plans.
These conditions require collaboration and cooperation between the state government, education leaders, and the communities themselves. Moving forward, their collaboration will be essential in addressing any issues and turning Willyama High School into a facility that enhances educational opportunities for all students.
A Bright Future Ahead
Construction on Willyama High School is set to begin soon. The Campbell County community enthusiastically looks forward to a new era in innovative education. Now government officials, educational leaders, and concerned parents are banding together. Yet their commitment is beyond question: they want to be educators who help create the conditions in which all students thrive.
