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ISSUE 15 | June 2022 Special Report

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FEARS NIRIMBA MAY BE SOLD OFF

Education precinct future unclear

THE unique Nirimba Education Precinct at Quakers Hill is under threat of being sold off to developers for around $500M, says Blacktown MP Stephen Bali.

Expressing his concern for the future of university education in Blacktown, Mr Bali has written to Western Sydney University (WSU) Senior Vice Chancellor and Provost, Professor Clare Pollock calling on the university to clarify its position on the campus.

“I acknowledge the role WSU has played iп the provision of academic courses in the Blacktown area but unfortunately rumours persist as to WSU's intentions for Nirimba campus,” Mr Bali said in his letter to Professor Pollock.

Mr Bali told The Blacktown News that be believed the Precinct’s prime land was under threat and was estimated to be worth half a billion plus.

“I have been previously informed Ьу WSU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Glover АО that I ought to support the selling of the Nirimba campus so part of the funds may Ье invested into the Blacktown CBD campus.

“Obviously, at the time, I could not see the benefi t to the people of Blacktown City, receiving а potentially minimalist approach for tertiary education in our expanding region.

Nirimba precinct.

“The evidence is clear that over the past 15 years that there has been а dramatic drop in course off erings, student numbers and staffi ng arrangements at Nirimba campus.

“Conversely, since 1995 and the establishment of WSU, Blacktown City's population grew Ьу more than 170,000, predominantly in the north-west area. Also, one cannot forget the closure of the pool which was part of the responsibility of the precinct and the university,” Mr Bali said

The 65ha Precinct comprises Western Sydney University's The College, Wyndham College, Nirimba TAFE NSW, St John Paul II Catholic College and Wyndham College

Many local residents in adjacent Quakers Hill purchased their properties because they were close to the Precinct and it was promoted as a future powerhouse of education in the West.

Nirimba, which means pelican, was previously an RAAF base in WW2 and a Naval Training Academy up until 1994.

Mr Bali said the Education Precinct was established in 1995 with a vision of being a world-class educational community spanning senior secondary, TAFE and university sectors to provide a unique delivery of education and training through collaborative partnerships.

“Western Sydney University (WSU) began in 1995 to off er undergraduate courses through to post-graduate degrees in a range of disciplines, while TAFE off ered opportunities for apprentices and trainees in building and construction industries, business, social sciences and other disciplines.”

Mr Bali said the secondary schools had gone from strength to strength, but it was a diff erent story for WSU and TAFE.

“WSU began reducing degree off erings in 2004 and by 2007 announced the closure of degree courses forcing 2700 students to relocate to other campuses despite outcries by Blacktown City Council, State and Federal parliamentarians and the community, “he said.

“To somewhat address the community outrage UWS College began in 2009 with the goal of Blacktown City residents having pathway courses to start their university education.

Thriving community of students

“WSU College Nirimba was a thriving community of students as they began their university life through diplomas across arrange of disciplines.

“Despite being a profi table business unit for WSU, the past few years have seen many courses being deleted without any community or student consultation.

“Nirimba was once a thriving community of students numbering more than 10,000 but has turned into a ghost town.”

Mr Bali said he was outraged at the treatment of the business college students.

“WSU failed to fund the Nirimba pool for its upkeep and did not have the

Continued on page 6

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ISSUE 15 | JUNE 2022

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ISSUE15|JUNE2022 TRUSTEDLOCALNEWS WWW.GREATERBLACKTOWNNEWS.COM.AU N N SHOCK SALE Nirimba education precinct may be sold off for $500M EXCLUSIVE

Special Report

The abandoned swimming pool at Nirmba precinct. ABANDONED By Blacktown News THE unique Nirimba Education Precinct at Quakers Hill is under threat of being sold off to developers for around $500M, says Blacktown MP Stephen Bali. Expressing his concern for the future of university education in Blacktown, Mr Bali has written to Western Sydney University (WSU) Senior Vice Chancellor and Provost, Professor Clare Pollock calling on the university to clarify its position on the campus. Mr Bali told The Blacktown News that be believed the Precinct's prime land was under threat and was estimated to be worth half a billion plus. More page 5.

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LOCAL PIONEER HONOURED

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BACKING FEMALE APPRENTICES

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BAZ A CUT ABOVE

Award winning barber, Baz Tastan from Tapered the Barbershop loves cutting hair - just as mcuh as his endeqaring relationship with the local community.

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BEING A DIGITAL NOMAD

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Park immortalises beloved principal

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

BELOVED Blacktown Girls High School principal the late Ms Beryl Simes Smith has been immortalised in a brand new park just 500m from the CBD.

‘Beryl’, as she was known by all and sundry, devoted 40 years of her life to educating children and young adults.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale offi cially opened the Beryl Simes Smith Park, on the corner of Fourth Ave and Prince St.

Councillor Julie Griffi ths, Blacktown MP Stephen Bali, Beryl’s relative Philip Smart, Blacktown Girls High Deputy Principal Zoe Van-Stolk, former Councillor Kevin Gillies and former students also attended the ribbon cutting to mark the park’s opening.

The $2m park features an outdoor gym, volleyball court, play equipment and undercover picnic areas and is conveniently located near Blacktown Girls High School and Blacktown Mosque.

Mayor Bleasdale said Beryl inspired generations of students during her four decades years in education.

“This park is a wonderful tribute to the much-respected Principal, who made her mark on our local community as Deputy Principal and Principal of Blacktown Girls High from 1958-71.

“Beryl is remembered as someone who instilled a strong sense of integrity, perseverance and ethics in her students.

“She was also a big believer in the importance of a well-rounded education and even opened a school garden.

“Therefore, it is apt that this wonderful new park and meeting place be named after Beryl Simes Smith.

“This playspace provides a much-needed open space and recreational facility for these residents,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

“Families can come down here and have a picnic, watch their children enjoy the play equipment, or have a game of volleyball.”

The park also includes new paved pathways and landscaping.

Teachers and local dignatories open Beryl Simes Smith Park.

Blacktown’s 20-year plan

BLACKTOWN City Council has delivered a record $809M balanced budget as the region undergoes massive growth.

The Council has also released a 20year blueprint for sustainable development in the wake of two challenging years of COVID-19.

Council adopted the draft budget for the 2022/23 fi nancial year, including a major capital works program of $284M.

This represents the largest-ever Council budget and follows the $656M budget delivered last year.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said the budget ensured “our Council delivers the projects which are the foundation for the modern Blacktown City that our residents and businesses need”.

“It comes after another 12 months of disruption and staring down ever-present challenges but shows that our commitment to delivering services for our community remains resolute.

Council has allocated $16Mm in 2022/23 for the construction and maintenance of roads, footpaths and bridges.

A further $108M has been allocated for purchasing land in new release areas to deliver essential drainage and transport infrastructure.

Council presented a suite of important documents, including a draft Community Strategic Plan, Our Blacktown 2041 as well as the Delivery Program 2022–2026, Operational Plan 2022/23 and 10-year Resourcing Strategy.

See more at www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au

JOIN US FOR

Melissa Wu headlines Wexpo event

BLACKTOWN will have its own expo experience when WEXPO comes to the Blacktown Workers Club in October.

WEXPO will showcase local businesses with more than 100 stalls and specialty workshops on subjects including: health, networking, property, networking, tourism, culture, charity, personal development, professional development and more.

The full day of events includes a breakfast and lunch with two high profi le guest speakers. Melissa Paige Wu has been confi rmed as the breakfast speaker.

Melissa is an Australian diver and silver medal winner at the2007 World Aquatics Championships, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder and recently competed on SAS Australia.

WEXPO Blacktown will also feature two unique round table sessions where up to 100 hand-picked guests will experience presentations about health and infrastructure.

The guests will then submit their feedback to the presentations which will be formulated into formal summary documents by Australian Catholic University Blacktown.

Charity partner for the event is the Better Foundation. The Blacktown News and Western Sydney Business Access (WSBA) are the offi cial media partners.

Event Patron, Stephen Bali MP, said Wexpo Blacktown is a unique opportunity for businesses and visitors to interact as we emerge from the impact of COVID.

Event partner and gold sponsor Blacktown Workers Club has allocated the Diamond Room for stall holders plus three separate function rooms for workshops and seminars

WEXPO will be held on October 24 at Blacktown Workers Club. More at www.wexpo.com.au

Melissa Wu participating in the recent SAS Challenge series.

Education precinct future in doubt

MP Stephen Bali. Continued from page 3

foresight to discuss with Olympic sports such as diving and water polo whether they could work with the University in delivering pathway opportunities.”

Mr Bali said the State Government had overseen trade and non-trade apprenticeships and traineeship commencements plummet by more than half in the past 10 years with dozens of TAFE campuses across NSW being either sold off or repurposed.

“What is the fate of the Nirimba campus? Is the writing on the wall?”

“The site would easily be worth a half a billion dollars in its raw form to property developers and it may be too much for the NSW Government and WSU to ignore.”

He claimed WSU failed to consult with anyone in 2007 prior to their degree closures, failed to consult with the pool closure, failed to consult with students when their diploma courses were relocated to other campuses.

“This is a legacy educational asset for the people of Blacktown City. This is not a cash cow for the State or WSU to sell off to put money into ‘other’ projects outside Blacktown City.”

Mr Bali is calling for transparent and community consultation on the future of Nirimba.

A spokesperson for WSU said Western Sydney University has a long and proud history at the Nirimba campus and the surrounding Nirimba Education Precinct.

“Western Sydney University is committed to a strong educational presence in Blacktown – continuing to optimise its course off erings at Nirimba to ensure it best meets the current and future educational needs of the local western Sydney community,” the spokesperson said.

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