Hayes Park Public School relieving principal Lisa Matthers, student leaders Nyah Boardman, Summah Barbour, Senara Hall and Sophia Micallef turn the sod on a new public preschool with Wollongong MP Paul Scully. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Shovels have hit the ground on new public preschools for Hayes Park and Berkeley West public schools.
The fee-free preschools are co-located on the grounds of their local primary schools.
They will offer a play-based early learning program to support childrens’ transition into Kindergarten and schooling.
In addition to state-of-the-art learning areas, each new preschool will include staff facilities, a kitchen, toilet facilities and landscaped outdoor areas.
Hayes Park Public School relieving principal Lisa Matthers said it was a wonderful opportunity for local families.
“With the public preschool on school grounds, it will help smooth children’s transition to Kindergarten,” she said.
“We are very excited about being able to welcome our youngest learners, supporting the beginning of their school journey at our new public preschool.”
Both new public preschools will be open for term one, 2027, and will each accommodate up to 80 children per week.
The delivery of both preschools has been fast-tracked after planning changes which scrapped the need for development applications for the construction of new public schools and preschools.
These are among six public preschools that the Minns Labor Government is delivering in the Illawarra by 2027, including Cringila, Lake Heights, Barrack Heights and Lake Illawarra South public schools in the Wollongong electorate.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said it was exciting to start construction.
“It’s great to see work underway to deliver new public preschools for both Hayes Park Public and Berkeley West Public,” he said.
“As well as the sod turnings today, the Cringila demolition is done, they’re doing the final design, and Lake Heights, Barrack Heights and Lake Illawarra South are underway.
“So many children star Kindergarten without any education background. Co-located, free preschools give them the opportunity to get familiar with their school and can have life-long learning benefits.
“Expressions of interest from parents will be requested about six months out, so keep an eye out for that. ”
Berkeley West Public School principal Andrew Attard said the preschools were part of a bigger picture, integrating education into the wider community.
“At Berkeley West, we’re incredibly proud to be part of this important investment in early learning,” he said.
“Our new preschool will give local children the very best start — right here on Country.
“This facility is not just about early education; it’s about honouring place, nurturing belonging, and building strong foundations for future learning and wellbeing.”
