We, the families and community of Tacking Point Primary School, respectfully urge the school, Department of Education, and relevant authorities to reconsider the proposed preschool development.

In July, Tacking Point Public School families were informed that the school had been selected for a new preschool development under the NSW Government’s plan to co-locate 100 preschools with public schools. While early education is undeniably important, the chosen location comes at such a devastating cost. While we support the need for much needed childcare options and solutions, the current plan threatens over two thirds of our beloved outdoor playground - it will considerably reduce a space vital not only for student wellbeing but also as a habitat for native wildlife, including our koalas and black cockatoos. 

The construction budget is estimated as $6.3 million, yet we understand that none of it is being spent locally with local builders. Instead, it’s going to a North Sydney construction company for a prefabricated building that will be dropped into place - a decision that ignored more innovative, community-friendly alternatives. This is why our playground was targeted, and how disappointingly local consultation was bypassed and our local leaders were not consulted. This is why ideas to enhance our existing school building infrastructure were dismissed.  This natural environment playground is a cornerstone of our school’s identity and a lifeline for children’s physical and mental health.

🌱 Nurture Student Wellbeing Through Nature
Outdoor play in green spaces promotes focus, creativity, resilience, and emotional balance. Preserving this land is not just about trees and grass -it’s about protecting a future where children thrive.

🚸 Prioritize Safety for Students, Families and Community
Bangalay Drive is already congested during peak school hours. The proposed 16+ car parking lot and preschool entrance on a blind hill would escalate risks for children and families walking and cycling to school and will significantly increase traffic to this road. Our community deserves secure, unimpeded access - not increased danger and disruption.

🚦 Avoid Worsening Bangalay Drive Traffic

The impact of added congestion and increased traffic on daily commutes, emergency access, and pedestrian safety is significant. Let’s ease pressure on this already strained road - not intensify it.

Traffic surge - With 60 preschool students aged 4-5 years proposed each day this means 60 caregivers parking and walking in to sign children in and out. That’s 120 extra trips between 9am and 3pm - putting even more pressure on our little localised roads and limited parking.

Check out these timelapses and just imagine if there was an access road constructed that 60 cars needed to turn in and out of at this exact school pick up and drop off time. Please let's not let this happen and call for far more community consultation and an alternative localised solution for our LGAs Preschool to be considered. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/cE-pBXa8_2s?si=oIzcYp_6RG7N8KFS

https://youtube.com/shorts/9yiZpG70oCc?si=vadWqGr6j5JiOitb

🐨 Preserve Local Wildlife & Environment
Our green space hosts diverse native flora and fauna. Development would disturb these delicate ecosystems and undermine the environmental character that makes our school so special. 

You only have to look at our little Koala friends who habitat this space below to see the impact building here will have: 

 

 

 

 

This little fella was up in this tree today, that the kids planted as part of our school's conservation efforts, in the school grounds having a feed and soaking up some sunshine and everyone enjoyed seeing him at the end of the school day! This is where the car park and entrance will be so, please let's protect his habitat and look at a far more suitable site for our Preschool.

https://youtube.com/shorts/sypr03C67x8?si=zr5MXnjcAYzwvfxu

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/AjSTEpz0NMg

https://www.facebook.com/reel/809561541031204

Please Protect this Space, we’re not just preserving land - we’re investing in a healthier, happier future for our students, wildlife and generations to come. 

📍 Seek Smarter, Safer Alternatives
We are not opposed to the preschool itself. We simply ask that other locations be considered - ones that protect student safety, ease traffic, and preserve our natural surroundings. With care and foresight, better solutions can be found.

💚 Our Community Says: Enough

Help us protect student wellbeing, preserve green space, and keep our school safe.  We support more childcare, but not at the cost of student safety and our highly valued natural environment.

Together, let’s protect our school’s identity, safeguard student wellbeing, and reflect the values of a community that treasures safety, nature, and a vibrant future for all.

👉 Please also help and email the Department of Education and Tacking Point Primary School today. https://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/contact-us.html

On this email address: schoolinfrastructure@det.nsw.edu.au with the subject heading “Request to rethink the Tacking Point Preschool development” Tell them why this matters to you! Urge them to rethink the site and consult with our community for a better solution.

Join our Community Facebook group 

We cannot believe that sadly they have ignored all our community leaders concerns to date:  

• Local Member IGNORED
• Local Council Councillors IGNORED
• Aboriginal Elders IGNORED
• Koala Conservation Australia (aka our local Koala Hospital) IGNORED
• FAWNA IGNORED
• Hastings Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group IGNORED
• Landcare IGNORED
• Early Connections - IGNORED
• Hundreds of letters from concerned citizens and parents IGNORED

Join and support our community - your voice has never mattered more. Thank you

 

 

 

All photos sourced courtesy of school website and publicly released school newsletters.