newy.com.au – Construction of Medowie’s first public high school has reached its highest point, marking a major milestone in the delivery of the Hunter’s first new public high school in more than 25 years.
Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington joined future students on site on Monday to mark the topping-out milestone, with the highest concrete pour completed on the school’s new three-storey building.
The school is due to open to its first Year 7 students on Day 1, Term 1, 2027, giving local families access to a public high school closer to home and reducing the time many students spend travelling by bus each day.
Medowie’s population is expected to grow by more than 4000 residents by 2040, increasing demand for local education infrastructure in the Port Stephens community.
The new high school will include modern classrooms, facilities for specialist support classes, specialist science, wood and metalwork workshops, creative and performing arts spaces, a multipurpose hall, library, administration area, canteen, and outdoor play and sport facilities.
Road and infrastructure upgrades on Abundance Road and Ferodale Road are also planned to improve traffic flow and provide safe pick-up, drop-off and pedestrian access before the school opens.
Enrolments are open for the first Year 7 cohort via edu.nsw.link/NewHSMedowie-Enrol.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the milestone showed the long-awaited school was becoming a reality for the Medowie community.
“This is an exciting milestone as the local community is finally seeing their long-awaited public high school become a reality,” Ms Car said.
“This project reflects the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to rebuilding public education in regional NSW and ensuring growing communities like Medowie have access to the fee-free, world-class education they deserve.”
Ms Washington said the topping-out milestone brought the community closer to welcoming students in 2027.
“Everything’s on the up in Medowie with our new high school reaching its highest point, bringing us another step closer to welcoming the first students in 2027,” she said.
“It’s very special to be marking this milestone with future students – they’re the reason our community never gave up on its fight for the school.
“Thank you to the construction crews for powering through the build, we’ve all been watching in awe at the pace of progress.”
Principal of the new high school for Medowie Kylee Beasley said the milestone was significant for the students who would soon fill the campus.
“It is a special feeling to be here with our future students, standing in the structure of what will soon be our school. It makes everything feel very real,” Ms Beasley said.
“These spaces will soon be filled with the energy of students beginning their high school journey.
“I am counting down the days until we open our doors and our students can make this space their own.”
The project is part of a $9 billion program of new schools and upgrades across NSW, including $2.1 billion for regional NSW.
