PUCC President, Lawrence Gibbons, has made a submission to the NSW Upper House challenging the decision to demolish Ultimo Public Primary School and rebuild on the existing parcel of land, rather than select a larger plot and build a world class educational facility. In his submission he states:
“In a dynamic, global economy, businesses in our precinct must compete with companies from around the world in order to attract and retain the best workforce possible. We believe our area’s standing as a global powerhouse in communications and high tech industries could be compromised by the government’s lack lustre investment into educational infrastructure in Pyrmont-Ultimo.”
Pyrmont-Ultimo is the fifth largest employment hub in NSW, and has the fastest growing economy compared to all other areas in Sydney, and the second largest in the country. The estimated 173 percent growth since 2001 has contributed significantly to the public purse.
The precinct is acknowledged as the country’s epicentre of IT, with the highest concentration of tech start-ups and an internationally recognised tertiary institution, as well as high profile media entities and a number of cutting edge creative companies.
This potential to attract a skilled and competitive workforce may be undermined by inadequate educational facilities. Furthermore, the development plans for the entire Bay area will substantially add to the local population, and intelligent foresight is required, as Gibbons concludes in his submission:
“With the nearby Bay Precinct project promising to bring tens of thousands more residents and workers to Pyrmont and the adjoining bays in the coming years, the Pyrmont Ultimo Chamber of Commerce urges the government to rethink its small plans and limited vision for a primary school in Ultimo.”