Suburbs in Sydney are experiencing rapid growth, outpacing the development of essential infrastructure. This has led to a concerning reliance on demountable classrooms—temporary structures first intended for brief use. A recent investigation by 9News using freedom of information requests has revealed that many of these portable classrooms have been in use at schools for decades.
These makeshift classrooms, described as a stop-gap solution, have become a long-term reality with some exceeding 20 years in age. At Baulkham Hills North Public School, for instance, nearly half of the classrooms are demountables, significantly surpassing the state-wide average of 10%. Parents have voiced their frustration, noting that generations of students have spent their educational years in these temporary facilities. Parent Benjamin Balk remarked on the long-term impact on students, while Clint Harding expressed disappointment at the addition of more demountables despite previous assurances of new permanent classrooms.
Currently, Baulkham Hills North caters to 916 students despite being designed for only 509. Parents have raised concerns about the inadequacies of the facilities, highlighting cramped staff and resource areas along with outdated amenities. This situation is not isolated; the investigation has identified 267 schools across Greater Sydney operating more than a decade with such temporary structures. An alarming total of 4,899 demountables are utilised throughout the state.
In particular, schools like Carlingford West and Northbourne Public are among those facing significant challenges, housing substantial numbers of demountables. Despite the rising demand for infrastructure, government actions have not matched the need. Since the election of Premier Chris Minns, who previously critiqued the use of demountable classrooms, nearly 650 new units have been installed under his administration.
Opposition voices, such as shadow education minister Sarah Mitchell, have highlighted a discrepancy in government project rollouts, pointing out a reduction in the number of new and upgraded school projects compared to previous budgets. Meanwhile, Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos reassured the public that plans are in place to construct new schools in rapidly growing areas, particularly in north-western and south-western Sydney, acknowledging the complexities involved in such developments.
As the population swells, the reliance on temporary classrooms presents significant challenges for educators, students, and parents alike, underscoring an urgent need for sustainable infrastructure solutions in Sydney’s burgeoning suburbs.