The City and the department will work together to identify opportunities to share more facilities across the City of Sydney local government area and potentially develop new facilities as part of several recently announced school redevelopment projects.

The agreement could see much-needed facilities developed for both school and community use as part of the redeveloped Alexandria Park Community School, the new inner Sydney high school on Cleveland Street, and Ultimo Public School.

The opportunities being considered include parks and open spaces, outdoor and indoor recreation and sporting facilities, meeting spaces, creative arts facilities and facilities for out of school care, holiday programs and child care.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said providing sporting, recreation and cultural facilities for the city’s rapidly growing communities was a high priority.

“Three quarters of our residents in the City of Sydney live in apartments – our city’s parks, playgrounds, sports fields and community facilities are their backyards,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The City already operates dozens of facilities, and we’re spending more than $400 million on new and upgraded sports fields, parks and playgrounds over the next 15 years, including in some of our fastest growing areas like Green Square, Ashmore and Harold Park.

“But we’re running out of space, which is why we’re working closely with neighbouring councils, the state government, schools, local sports clubs and regional and state sporting associations to make sure our residents and workers have greater access to open space and recreational facilities.

“This new agreement with the Department of Education has the potential to benefit both school students and the wider city community with new facilities that everyone can use in the areas that need them the most.”

The new agreement follows the release of the department’s School Assets Strategic Plan, which details the urgent need for the development of new school infrastructure across NSW – particularly in Sydney – in response to growing school populations. The number of students in NSW schools is set to increase by 21 percent by 2031, with 80 percent of this growth to occur in Sydney.

Jointly developed facilities are able to benefit both school communities and the wider population because peak demand generally matches availability. For example, school groups are more likely to use sports fields and other facilities during school hours, while clubs and other community groups are more likely to use them on weekends and at night.

There are already several arrangements in place between the City and the department regarding the joint use of assets. These include the sharing of a sports field and courts at Newtown Public School and a recently signed agreement for a temporary school to be located in Wentworth Park during the redevelopment of Ultimo Public School. Schools across the local area also use City of Sydney facilities such as aquatic centres, sports fields, parks and open spaces on a regular basis, both via formal bookings and informal arrangements.