Main Works for the Nowra East Public-School Upgrade commenced in early 2026, marking an important step in providing new learning facilities for the Nowra East community. Patterson Building Group has engaged Woolacotts to deliver the project’s structural and civil engineering services, supporting the delivery of a new two‑storey classroom building, an expanded preschool, upgraded wellbeing spaces, and improved access routes across the campus. The project forms part of the NSW Government’s broader program to renew education infrastructure across regional NSW.
Woolacotts’ engineering approach focuses on practical, buildable solutions that suit an operational school environment. The structural design provides a durable system for the new building while enabling staged construction to occur safely around school activities. Civil engineering inputs include coordinated site levels, overland flow analyses, stormwater upgrades, and car‑park improvements that improve circulation and support safe movement for students, staff, and families throughout construction and into long‑term operation.
Reflecting on the structural design, Stefan Geldenhuis, Principal Structural Engineer, said: “Our focus has been on creating efficient structural solutions that minimise disruption and support a smooth transition into the new learning spaces. The design aligns with SINSW’s goal of providing flexible, modern facilities that meet the needs of students now and into the future.”
When completed, the upgrade will deliver 11 new permanent classrooms, including support learning rooms, double the available preschool capacity from 20 to 40 places, and introduce new sensory play areas from Preschool to Year 6. Accessibility improvements and better circulation routes will make everyday movement across the school easier and safer, and the new Mulga Room will support the school’s community and wellbeing programs. Early Works commenced in Term 4, 2025, with Main Works beginning in early 2026 and overall completion targeted for mid‑2027. Woolacotts’ structural and civil engineering services continue to support the delivery of a functional, resilient, and future‑focused learning environment for the Nowra East Public-School community.
