Why Port Macquarie parents want to put a stop to Tacking Point Preschool

Members of the Port Macquarie community are upset about a new preschool being built and, while another childcare option is welcomed, it’s the proposed location causing the most concern.

Locals cite a potential loss of play space, a lack of consultation, and the impact on koalas as just a few of the reasons to pause the plan, while Port Macquarie MP Robert Dywer has raised questions about the project.

What happened: Preparation works for the construction of a new preschool near Tacking Point Public School started in December, 2025.

• The project is part of a NSW Government initiative to build 100 new public preschools on public school sites by 2027, which it says will double the number of public preschools across the state.

Protest planned: A petition opposing the future preschool has gained 1,300 signatures, and a community rally is set for Thursday, February 12, with a goal to see the plans paused and reassessed.

What’s the problem?: Local parent Emma Schofield lives a couple of blocks away from Tacking Point Public School. Her daughter attends the school. 

She and others living in the area aren’t happy about the construction site for the new preschool taking over the current children’s greenspace and play area. 

Members of the Tacking Point Preschool Community Engagement online group say the location of the new preschool is not appropriate for the target audience, and works including tree removal could impact the local koala population. 

• “The playground is destroyed. The kids are upset. The community is outraged,” Schofield told The Mid North Coaster. “The preschool is meant to be serving vulnerable families who can't otherwise access preschool and they have decided to put it in comparatively one of the most high socioeconomic areas in the LGA. Houses two streets away go for $2 million.”

Backed by MP: Member for Port Macquarie Robert Dwyer shares similar views to Schofield. On behalf of the community group, Dwyer said he had written to acting Minister for Education, Courtney Houssos, on two separate occasions with concerns.

• “I don’t believe enough community consultation was undertaken which is very disappointing and has resulted in the action taken by concerned parents and members of the community,” Dwyer said.

• “Whilst I support the school having a new preschool, I don’t believe the site is appropriate for a number of reasons including the impact on the playground, the increased traffic as well as the negative effect on the local koala population.”

What can the council do? The development was planned and determined by the NSW Government under state planning legislation. 

In this circumstance, a planning approval pathway could be used that doesn’t legally require a Development Application (DA) or public consultation to proceed. Port Macquarie-Hastings Council said it does not have the authority to stop or cancel the project as it is not a council development.

• “The NSW Department of Education is responsible for its planning, approvals and delivery,” a council spokesperson said.

Members of the community will gather from 7am on Tacking Point Public School grounds on Thursday to ask the NSW Government to halt current works, consult the community and Indigenous representatives, and consider relocating the preschool to save the greenspace.