First look unveiled for new public primary school and preschool in Worrigee

Families in Worrigee have been given their first glimpse of a major new education precinct, with the NSW Government releasing initial designs for a new public primary school and co-located public preschool set to serve one of the state’s fastest-growing regional communities.

The project represents a significant investment in education and early learning infrastructure for the Shoalhaven, where population growth and housing development have accelerated in recent years. According to the NSW Government, Worrigee and neighbouring South Nowra have experienced a 150 per cent increase in new dwellings over the past decade.

A purpose-built school for a growing community

The new primary school will provide a contemporary learning environment for local families and is scheduled to open in 2028.

Plans for the school include:

• 24 classrooms
• Three support learning spaces
• A multipurpose hall with covered outdoor learning area
• Library and specialist program rooms
• Sports field and multipurpose court
• Outdoor play and administration areas

Once operational, the school is expected to ease enrolment pressure on nearby Nowra Public School and Nowra East Public School, while reducing travel demands for families currently accessing schools outside their immediate catchment.

New public preschool to open in 2027

Co-located on the same site, the new public preschool is scheduled to open in 2027, ahead of the primary school launch.

The preschool will offer places for up to 120 children each week, expanding access to affordable early learning for local families and supporting smoother transitions into school.

It is also one of four new public preschools planned for the Shoalhaven region, alongside projects at Bomaderry Public School, Greenwell Point Public School and Sanctuary Point Public School.

Growing focus on integrated education planning

The Worrigee project reflects a broader policy shift toward co-located preschool and school models, designed to improve access, strengthen transition pathways and deliver education services within growing communities.

For the early childhood education and care sector, these developments signal the increasing role of governments in directly expanding preschool infrastructure in areas of unmet demand.

Part of a broader regional investment

The development also forms part of the NSW Government’s wider regional education infrastructure pipeline, including a multi-billion-dollar commitment to new and upgraded schools across regional NSW.

For communities such as Worrigee, the announcement is likely to be welcomed as a practical response to sustained growth and increasing demand for local education options.

As enrolment pressures continue across many fast-growing regions, integrated projects combining preschool and school access are expected to remain a key feature of future planning.

Read the full media release here.