A Maitland councillor has accused the state government of sitting on its hands when it comes to providing public schools infrastructure in the Maitland local government area.
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Cr Robert Aitchison told a recent council meeting that the state is relying on private entities to provide schools across the region, saving the state millions of dollars in infrastructure costs.
He made the comment during debate on an application by the Catholic Diocese of Maitland and Newcastle to modify an approved educational establishment at Chisholm.
Council voted unanimously in favour of making a written submission to the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel indicating its support of the proposed modification application.
During the debate Cr Aitchison said Maitland remains the fastest growing local government area in NSW with five people a day moving to the city.
“I look forward to the day where I can declare an interest in voting on a new state school for the area. It has been 10 years since the state government build a school in Maitland, the last one at Ashtonfield,” he said.
“It’s high time the powers that be understand that this city is growing and they can’t rely on the private providers all the time.”
“The Catholic church seems to be the only body building schools and as a result, parents will be pushed towards a Christian education for their children. I understand that the State still has to pay for educating children but it’s not spending on bricks and mortar.”
Cr Aitchison said he was schooled through the public system. “My children go to Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College. That’s because when I went to enroll one of my children 11 years ago the local public schools were bursting at the seams. I tried the Catholic system and that was also full to the point where they weren’t accepting siblings if one child was already enrolled,” Cr Aitchison said.
He wants the state to start planning for primary and secondary schools in the west and in Thornton.