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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-04 Daily Xml
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LYRUP PRIMARY SCHOOL

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (15:39): Today, I rise to speak about a small school which is basically across the road from my home—Lyrup Primary in the Riverland—and the anguish it is causing a small township at present. Lyrup Primary School was opened in 1895 and, to celebrate the institution's centenary recently, there were more than 400 people in attendance. This is a school of rich history and it has been an extremely valuable asset to the local community.

It was sad to see the doors close at the end of last year, as decided by the school governing council and the parents of only five students remaining. The community was disappointed to lose an important icon to the town; however, the community rallied together and called a meeting on 3 December 2012 where they came up with a proposal to purchase the school site to develop a caravan park and backpackers' accommodation. The community cited that such a development would be economical on the Lyrup Primary School site and would provide much-needed central facilities for seasonal workers. The proposal would also positively benefit the communities through increased visitor numbers.

In a letter to the Department for Education and Child Development in December, the community was told that 'it is anticipated that Lyrup Primary School will be declared surplus to the requirements of the department early in 2013' and be referred to Renewal SA. While providing in principle support for the proposal, Renmark Paringa council stated that it had had several approaches to develop backpacker-style accommodation over the past 18 months.

However, this all remains in limbo as a number of key assets have been removed from the site since the school was closed. The education department told the school's governing council that facilities within the building would be removed but all other infrastructure would remain, yet the community has witnessed sheds and playground equipment being removed. This playground equipment was purchased and installed from money raised by the community and the school but was pulled out by a contractor who has it sitting in his backyard.

According to DTEI, some buildings and playground equipment were removed to minimise vandalism and the attraction to people entering the site and it may take up to two years to sell. As the former primary school site is being gutted by the government at present, it is becoming less and less attractive to a potential buyer. This lengthy process to have the site put on the real estate market may deter potential buyers who have already expressed interest.

To date, the government has not understood that Lyrup is a small community, and its businesses rely on people coming into town. Turning the former school into accommodation is a perfect opportunity to help out Lyrup and its small-business sector but, sadly, the former school is becoming an empty shell and it will potentially become a site for vandalism. I have written to education minister Rankine twice with no response. I was told that the issue was being dealt with by infrastructure minister Koutsantonis, who I am yet to hear from.

The Lyrup Primary School is a community asset but, if the facility is stripped bare, it will no longer be attractive as an asset to a potential buyer. There are also concerns that the site could become a target for vandalism and, as I have said, in its current state, it could also be a site for squatters and vermin animals, because it is almost in a state where it is just a bare, empty shell. The Lyrup Community Club submitted a proposal to the council to develop that school into a caravan park or backpacker accommodation.

To date, there has been no direction for that school to become a part of that community once again. It is an asset. It has been there since 1895, as I have said, and it has rich history. It has the old limestone building that is sitting there, looking almost at the point of being derelict. Again, I am saying that the Lyrup Primary School needs to be addressed. The issue is not being dealt with. Both the education minister and the Minister for Infrastructure are ignoring the plight of that community.

Similarly, we have the Loveday Primary School, which is going to close its doors at the end of this year as well. Sadly, it only has eight students enrolled at present. The school is 90 years old and has six staff who will be affected by the closure. Again, that school needs to be put on the radar. We need to be able to keep that as a community asset. Whether it can be used as part of the water museum, whether it can be used as part of the Loveday internment camp, it must be kept as a regional asset.

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