Thirty three small buildings will be added to the Deniliquin High School site from this week, as work begins to ensure all students can return to the campus from Term 1 next year.

After announcing the proposed time frame last week, work began in earnest yesterday.

The NSW Department of Education has confirmed it does include asbestos remediation of the burned building before full demolition.

Air monitoring has been put it place, and to date across the site has returned results below the minimum detectable limit.

This means it is consistent with acceptable levels in ambient air (i.e. <0.01 fibres/mL) as per SafeWork NSW guidelines.

Principal Glen Warren said the “pop-up school” will accommodate all education and staff needs.

“There’s going to be special science labs, woodwork, library, office space and staff rooms to replace what we've lost.

“So, it's really great to see, and we'll still have a large green space here that we'll be able to have for students, and for sport, and I think that's a real positive.

“The support that I've had from the department (of education) is amazing.”

In Deniliquin yesterday, NSW Department of Education deputy secretary public schools Deb Summerhayes said it was still too early to suggest when full demolition may occur, or when building replacement might be completed.

But she said the rebuild stages would be coordinated in consultation with the community.

Ms Summerhayes did not have enough information to confidently place a dollar value on the fire damage.

“It's not a decision that's made somewhere in Sydney,” she said of future permanent plans for the school.

“Representatives from the school community will be part of those conversations moving forward.

“But there's still a number of assessments and hygiene work that needs to take place.”

The fire damaged areas of the school have been securely fenced off, and initial work will include making the buildings safe and removing fire-damaged structures from the school site.

“This work will involve working with asbestos containing material in the fire damaged buildings,” the department said.

“The material has been confirmed by an independent hygienist as friable asbestos meaning that it can be more easily reduced to a powder.

“We are following all the advice and protocols of independent asbestos hygienists and other experts.

“All work will be done in accordance with work, health and safety laws, and the site-specific Asbestos Management Plan.

“All work will be completed by licensed and accredited asbestos contractors and monitored by occupational hygienists in strict accordance with all applicable legislation, regulations, policies, and guidelines.

“These results represent a consistent finding that there is not a detectable level of asbestos fibres in the air in this area.

“Asbestos fibres pose a risk to health if airborne. In this case the evidence and advice from our hygienist is that there is not airborne asbestos in this area.”

Works at Deniliquin High School will take place Monday to Friday from 7am to 5pm and Saturday from 8am to 3pm. No demolition work will take place after 1pm Saturday, or on Sundays or public holidays unless notified otherwise.

You can find more information about the project at edu.nsw.link/DeniliquinHS-FireRecovery.

Corowa Free Press Google News Panels

Monday, 29th December 2025

Your Morning Headlines

Select Stories

Publish Panels