Nearly 200 rally at TPPS as kids chant ‘save our playground’ over $6.3m preschool site

NEARLY 200 parents, grandparents, students and local residents gathered outside Tacking Point Public School (TPPS) this morning, chanting “save our playground” and “save the koalas” as opposition to a new $6.3 million preschool spilled into a big show of community force.

Waving banners along Bangalay Drive, the protestors stressed they are not against early education – but against what they describe as the wrong site.

School parent Kate Dawes said the issue had never been about opposing a preschool.

“Look, it’s a typical case of some faceless bureaucrat having a great idea,” she said.

“I’m all for putting preschools into every public school, but it needs to be done properly. This is tick-a-box.”

“They haven’t properly looked at the impact on the kids. Most of these kids have nowhere to play at recess now.”

She said students in Years 3-6 were now restricted largely to concrete areas during recess, with the smaller grassed bowl reserved for younger children.

“My son, Oliver, came home and said they’ve just got concrete to play on,” she said.

“There’s not room for them on school grounds. And I just don’t see how that is appropriate for our kids to not have somewhere to play.”

Oliver, a Year 4 student, said the changes were already being felt.

“We’re losing a fair bit of our running space,” he said.

“And all the animals, not just koalas, but birds and other things are losing some of their homes too.”

Asked what he would say to the government, Oliver replied: “I think they need to stop it. For the animals and the people.”

Grandparent Carol Roper said the scale of Thursday’s turnout reflected deep concern.

“The loss of the playground and how badly the koala habitat is impacted. I feel it’s unacceptable for the local community,” she said.

“The many voices of the community are not being heard, and that’s why so many have turned up to this protest today.”

She questioned what message was being sent to students.

“This is about preservation of valuable green space for the kids and preserving a koala habitat. What message does it send the school children by taking it away? It’s all wrong.”

Her grandson Ozzie, a Year 5 student, pointed to trees he said students had helped plant near the proposed preschool and car park site.

“We don’t like it,” he said.

“I feel like we’ve done all the work and we put the trees in, and then they’re just taking them away.

“We don’t really understand why they are doing it.

“All of us love seeing the koalas around here and we don’t want their home taken away either.”

Protest organiser and school parent Nicky Kingston-Davies said the group wants the project paused.

“My message is, I would like our State Member (Robert Dwyer) to immediately talk to the senior executives at the Department of Education, as well as Premier Chris Minns – who he has previously promised to call – to say it’s reality now, the kids have lost their play space,” she said.

Asked whether it was too late to halt the development, she replied: “It’s never too late to do anything, and there’s still time to pause this project to get its merits fully investigated.”

Fellow parent Emma Schofield said families had spent months seeking answers about the site selection, environmental reports and approval pathway.

“For over three months, we’ve been trying to find out why the government is so doggedly committed to this site and not any other alternatives that don’t put our kids at risk and don’t threaten the endangered species. But they just won’t entertain the idea,” she said.

Schofield raised questions about the project’s cost, certification process and environmental compliance, saying the group was seeking greater transparency.

When asked about accusations the movement was driven by “NIMBY” sentiment, she rejected the label.

“I don’t think name-calling is very helpful. It’s irresponsible, inflammatory and exaggerated,” she said.

By Matt TAYLOR