Hilltops Council is investigating a joint venture with Schools Infrastructure NSW to build a shared facility between the Young High School and the Council.
Hilltops Council has been successful in its application to the State Government’s Regional Cultural Fund for $3 million to go towards a new library for Young. Deputy Premier, John Barilaro was in Young last week with Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke. “The Regional Cultural Fund had an enormous number of applications from across the State and I am thrilled to see this significant investment in vitally important cultural and social infrastructure coming to my electorate,” shared Ms Cooke. Deputy Mayor Tony Wallace said the funding was very welcome and will help to ensure the much-needed improvement of the Young Library takes place. Council is currently exploring a partnership with School Infrastructure NSW – a centre of excellence and dedicated delivery unit for planning, delivery and maintenance of NSW public schools – for the planning and feasibility of a joint-use library facility accessible to both the school and the community.
Little if anything has been done to explore whether Young Library will be knocked down and re-built on its current site or if a new building will be constructed on a greenfield site. “We have a responsibility to ensure we consider the interests of all ratepayers and residents both now and into the future.” “Council is working hard to understand the benefits and intricacies of the joint-use arrangement including the ongoing operating costs of the facility. We want to ensure the joint-use facility will have the best outcome for the community and school students,” shared Clr Wallace. “It is clear that by working together we can pool our resources to not only have a brilliant new library but to also provide facilities to our community that currently don’t exist including a wellbeing hub, arts workshop and gallery space and a Wiradjuri learning and cultural centre.”
Council has $3.5 million worth of funding already allocated to a new library facility which is made up of $1.5 million coming from Council in its Long Term Financial Plan, and another $2 million from the Stronger Communities Amalgamation Funding.
Shadow Minister for Local Government Peter Primrose said, “There is no requirement for councils to be involved but nor is it prohibited in the Act. It is not unusual for councils to resolve to sign up to a joint venture involving a library, sporting facility, child care or something similar. The real issues are: can the Council afford to be involved, is there a detailed business case for the proposal, and to ensure it is not simply cost shifting what should be state functions on to cash strapped local councils.”
The Regional Cultural Fund is investing $100 million to drive growth in arts, screen, cultural and heritage infrastructure for the social, cultural and economic benefit of communities in regional NSW. The application process was very competitive with Hilltops’ project being one of 68 projects across the state selected for funding. If the joint use facility goes ahead, residents of Harden, Young and Boorowa may effectively be contributing to Young High School’s facilities through the joint use facility.
The future of smaller high schools surrounding Young has been cast into doubt. Boorowa Central School has a combined total of 216 students across 13 grades, averaging 15.8 students each year. Murrumburrah High School has 124 students averaging 20.6 each year whilst the other small school in the area, Henry Lawson High, has an average of 29 students in each year. Temora and Cootamundra are also within driving distance and, like Harden, students already attend both Young high schools from Coota. If Young High School transforms into a ‘Super School’, further pressure may be put on local High Schools. The Department of Education may not have to force the closure of schools if numbers automatically fall below a threshold. This may become the case if facilities in nearby towns far exceed those in other towns drawing students away from their local school.
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