The New South Wales government has revealed a plan to improve childcare and early learning accessibility for families by building 100 preschools in the next three years.

Nearly half of the centres will be constructed in regional and remote communities and will be co-located public primary schools.

Premier Chris Minns used his address at the Labor Country Conference in Nowra, south of Sydney, to unveil the “historic” $769-million investment today.

“I am excited to announce an important step in our plan to deliver universal preschool access in this state,” he said.

“[NSW Education Minister] Prue Carr will lead this plan to build them.”

The Premier said co-locating the new preschools with schools was designed to ease pressure on families. 

“It means you won’t have to fork out so much for that last year of childcare or preschool, particularly when both often mum and dad are working,” Mr Minns said.

The 49 preschools will be built in the South Coast, Hunter, Illawarra, Mid North Coast, New England, Northern Rivers, Far West, Riverina, South-West Slopes and Central West regions.

“Shame we couldn’t get to 50,” Mr Minns said.

Easier for families

Greenwell Point mum Charmaine Davidson rejoiced at the news that her daughter’s school will have a preschool built beside it.

“My daughter is in grade 1 at Greenwell Point Public School and my son goes to a preschool in [Nowra, an hour away],” Ms Davidson said. 

“We always wanted something in Greenwell Point — there is nothing, no care out here at all.

Ms Davidson, the president of the Greenwell Point Parents and Carers Committee, said she supported the state government’s co-location strategy. 

“If it’s built by the time before [my son] goes to school, I would move him,” she said.

Minns lashes Liberals

Dozens of state delegates seated in the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre applauded Mr Minns as he criticised the former government for underperforming on its promise to deliver 500 new preschools over four years.

“I can tell you in the 12 years the [Liberals] were in power in NSW, they built one preschool,” he said.

“The difference is – and we’ve said it – when we mean it, we’ll do it.” 

Sites for the new preschools were selected by the NSW Department of Education Panel and overseen by an independent chair and probity advisor. 

“[The selection process] is important to say because of the records of pork barrelling by the previous government,” he said.

“It might sound silly I’m saying this, but the public must know when we spend money … we are doing it for the benefit of the people of this state.” 

Opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Mitchell said the government had left out some communities.

“The simple fact is, if you’re a family living in the Tweed, Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Clarence, Wagga, Upper Hunter, Dubbo or Bathurst regions, there will not be a single new preschool delivered by the Labor government for your children to attend,” she said.

“The Minns Labor government … once again are showing a complete lack of knowledge and empathy for those who live outside of Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong.”

‘Good start’

NSW Parents and Carers Federation president Yvonne Hilsz said Labor’s plan was a “great step forward” for early education.

“For many kids who are able to attend a preschool that is attached to a primary school, the integration for them moving into preschool to kindergarten is often easier,” she said.

Ms Hillsz said today’s announcement was a “good start”.

“Yes, we fully endorse the new preschools coming through,” she said.

“But we want them fully funded as much as we want fully funded schools in a public education system.