Cr Penfold, (pictured right) who is also a Maitland councillor, said government statistics related to the region’s schools showed how much student populations had grown in recent years.

Given that Maitland’s population had been forecast to grow by 50,000 residents in the next 15 years, he said urgent action was needed to set up a new school in the area.

Maitland Grossmann High’s student population jumped by 21.52 per cent, from 1050 to 1276, from 2008 to 2013, according to the My School website.

Meanwhile, Rutherford Public School had an 18.24 per cent student population increase during the same period, with 700 students enrolled in 2013.

While Cr Penfold could not promise a new school, he vowed to lobby for at least one new facility in the region’s west if elected on March 28.

“I think the numbers speak for themselves,” he said.

“We can’t be talking about an extra 50,000 people without seeing pressure on schools. 

“There is already pressure on schools in the area.”

Cr Penfold said the previous Labor government should have delivered a new school for the region during its previous 16-year term in power.

He said a new school should have been delivered about five years ago.

“I will make constant and appropriate representation so the issue stays on the radar,” Cr Penfold said.

“We see with the hospital how long it takes to deliver infrastructure, it doesn’t take so long with a school, but it is still a significant asset.” 

Labor candidate for Maitland Jenny Aitchison previously identified the need for a new school in the Maitland region.

She told the Mercury previously that she would investigate the possibility of a new school if elected in March.