A $36 million proposal for a new school at Estella for Wagga's booming northern suburbs has been put in a planning 'fast track' by the NSW government.
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The Department of Planning will have the option of approving the new school within the next four weeks under a program designed to boost the economy.
The plan calls for a 480-pupil school beside Peter Hastie Oval and Charles Sturt University on Estella Road.
Estella Progress Association president Mark Brown, who has a child turning primary school age next year, said the chance of a quick approval was exciting for families.
"It's certainly exciting given the last information was that the school was to open in early 2021," he said.
"If the school is getting fast tracked, there are even better prospects of it being open in time for term one."
Mr Brown said he hoped the new school, if approved, would encourage development of other amenities at Estella.
"[A new school] is something that has been on the cards for Estella even since the suburb was really established," he said.
"It provides further justification for development of other utilities such as a shopping centre, fuel station and other amenities that we ordinarily would have to travel ten minutes to access."
During 2019, Wagga's northern suburbs recorded the third-highest rate of increase in regional NSW at 4.8 per cent, behind Queanbeyan at 5.7 per cent and Maitland at 6.3 per cent.
To qualify for the 'Planning System Acceleration Program', projects need to have the ability to commence work within six months.
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NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the program meant that "shovel-ready projects can get underway".
"If approved, these projects will be a win-win for NSW: delivering jobs for today, and local community and business benefits tomorrow," he said.
"It's important to note that this is not a greenlighting exercise, the same stringent checks, balances and community consultation remain."
A Department of Education spokesperson said the school was "on track to open its doors for students in early 2021".
"The project has been identified for fast tracked planning assessment and the approval is anticipated for 18 June. Main construction work is expected to begin approximately two weeks later in early July," the spokesperson said.
"Early works have already begun on site. The school plans to begin accepting enrolments next term."