An outback school will be bulldozed after mould including dangerous human pathogens infested carpets,chairs,plasterboard and even drum kits.
Willyama High School in Broken Hill,in far-western NSW,has been closed to students and staff since mid-January when an extensive mould outbreak was discovered by a staff member after returning from the summer break.
An independent hygienist’s report,handed to government in recent days,found remediation would require the three-storey classroom building to be gutted of all porous materials,including insulation and electronics.
Even then,another infestation could develop without other,major changes to the facility. Instead,it will be demolished and rebuilt.
“While today’s news is not ideal,I want to assure the people of Broken Hill that we will be with you for as long as it takes to rebuild this school,” NSW Education Minister Prue Car said today.
Staff and the school’s 570 students have been learning across three other school sites in the outback town since the start of term one.
They will be reunited on day one of term two under the roof of a pop-up school being established on the grounds of Broken Hill High School.
It would provide students with high-quality facilities and materials and ensure Willyama retained its own identity while the school is rebuilt,the government said.
Two types of mould,aspergillus and penicillium spp,both dangerous human pathogens,were found in several locations tested and were “invariably more widespread throughout,” according to the report.
The exact cause of the outbreak could not be determined.
AAP