Lismore Public School doors open again

By Samantha Elley

For the last 18 months, since the devastating 2022 floods, many students on the Northern Rivers have had to do with makeshift classrooms.

As of this week, however, that has changed for Lismore Public School.

No one could be happier than the staff, students and their families.

“To have our wonderful school back means a lot to the whole school community, and it has been an honour to be involved in such an important job,” said Lismore Public School principal Samantha Rowsell.

“I would like to thank the community for their patience, and I would like to thank all the people involved in delivering these new facilities during such trying times.”

The Minns Labor Government has announced its commitment to completing major recovery works in the flood-damaged schools. These schools include Lismore’s Wyrallah Road Public School and Crabbes Creek Public School, where remediation works construction of new schools at Wardell, Broadwater, Empire Vale and Blakebrook public schools.

“Completing these flood recovery projects

Education Prue Car.

“The tragic 2022 floods took so much from communities in northern NSW, but I am happy to see remediation works completed at Lismore will be complete at the end of August, and at Mullumbimby Public School, where the flood recovery project will conclude in September.

Progress is also underway elsewhere in the region for the has been an absolute priority to the Minns Labor Government, so we can give the teachers and students in the Northern Rivers the certainty and security they need,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for

Public School this week.”

At Lismore Public School, the project to remediate the whole school involved:

• Renovations to the classroom block including new wall linings, cabinetry, windows and a contemporary fit out, which includes new carpet, pinboards, upgraded lighting, furniture, seating and desks

• Re-establishment of the canteen

• Remediation of the school hall and performance space with new and modern audiovisual equipment and an accessible stage area •

New covered walkways, lining of outdoor learning spaces, new school-wide signage, internal painting and bathroom refurbishments in non-flood affected buildings

• Newly lined COLA

• Decontaminated and returfed grounds and new soft fall surfaces on three play equipment zones

• Flood mitigation storm water works

The new buildings have been designed to deliver modern methods of teaching, state-ofthe-art technology and connection with the colours and character of the surrounding landscape.

Member for Lismore and newly appointed Parliamentary Secretary Janelle Saffin said the completion of works at Lismore Public School was a major milestone.

“The 2022 floods will never be forgotten, but I am so pleased that teachers and students at Lismore Public School, and very soon at other local schools, will no longer be surrounded with reminders of that event,” she said.