Residents have long complained that traffic around Dapto Public School gridlocks of an afternoon and morning.
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Some Horsley residents the Mercury spoke to this week fear the situation is only going to get worse once the school gets its promised multi-million dollar upgrade, which will see student capacity increase towards 1000 students.
School Infrastructure NSW hosted two community information sessions at the school this week to address residents' concerns about the major upgrade to Dapto Public School.
The school project aims to cater for current and projected growth in the area and will deliver 20 new permanent class rooms, upgraded administration facilities, library, canteen, student toilets and outdoor learning areas.
Demountables will be removed upon completion.
The upgrade will accommodate up to 875 students in permanent classrooms. The school currently has an enrollment of 738 students.
Rebecca Hornung, who has three children at the school, with another one to start next year, welcomed any improvements to the school.
But Miss Hornung and fellow resident Sheryl Grossmann expressed concern that the school itself was growing at a dramatically rapid pace but there were no plans in place for more primary or secondary schools.
Mrs Grossman called on the Department of Education to scrap the upgrade and build a new school at West Dapto.
A Department of Education spokesman recently told the Mercury it anticipated that by 2031, about 800 students will be enrolled at the school.
"A traffic study recommended the addition of about 30 car parking spaces which have been included in the plan," he said.
Mrs Grossmann, whose property backs onto the school's playground, was particularly concerned about increased traffic and noise.
"Have a look, cars are parking anywhere they can find a spot. It is only going to get worse," she said.
"I see they did a traffic study and are adding 30 car parks. That is well and good but that means the design now will allow for less green space. Where are the children going to play?
"And isn't West Dapto going to have 19,000 new homes? Why aren't they building a school out there?"
Shellharbour MP Anna Watson agreed.
"Whilst I welcome the upgrade of Dapto Public School, the Berejiklian Government cannot continue to ignore the need for more schools in West Dapto to cater for the growing population and long-term future needs of that community," she said.
The Dapto Public School project DA is on public exhibition from July 31 to August 13. Details at Wollongong City Council's website.