Demolition of Broken Hill's Willyama High School begins after mould outbreak

Australia Broadcast Center

18 hours ago

Eighteen months after a Broken Hill high school was forced to close indefinitely due to a major mould infestation, demolition work has begun.
More than 600 Willyama High School students had to be relocated to alternate schools in January last year after the start of term one.
The public high school in Far West New South Wales was earmarked for demolition last March after an independent hygienist report found the mould infestation was so extreme the building would have to be stripped down to its bricks to be safe again.
The rebuild, which local MP Roy Butler believes will cost between $90–100 million, is expected to start early next year, with students returning from 2027.
In the past, locals living near the site voiced concerns about potentially coming into contact with hazardous material, including mould or asbestos, during the demolition.
In a statement, a NSW Department of Education spokesperson said surrounding residents should not worry.
"Before heavy demolition began in the area, all associated hazardous materials were safely removed, and the area inspected to confirm remediation was safely completed," they said.
"The safety and wellbeing of our students, workers and the community is our highest priority, and we will keep the community updated as work progresses."
The spokesperson said the process had been carefully staged to "prioritise safety and minimise disruption to the local community".
"All demolition activities are being undertaken in alignment with the Remediation Action Plan developed by an independent hygienist for the site," they said.
The NSW government announced last month it had allocated more than $50 million in the state budget to start the Willyama High School rebuild.