The future shape of schooling in the Wakatipu Basin came in for robust discussion at a public workshop in Queenstown last night.
Only 15 people came to Remarkables Primary School to attend the first of six workshops being held in the area this week.
But in a session run by Ministry of Education-contracted facilitator Dr Gabrielle Wall, they were vocal in expressing opinions reflecting a dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Frankton resident Hudson Turnbull said the workshops were a "waste of time'' until the ministry showed a commitment to buying land schools needed to cater for the area's rapidly growing population.
History showed the ministry did not buy land for new schools until it was "absolutely desperate'', Mr Turnbull said.
That resulted in schools being built on sites that were too small and in the wrong places.
The workshops are part of a ministry pre-consultation process for developing a new plan for primary and secondary education in the area. It aims to complete the new plan within 12 months.
A second workshop was held at Arrowtown Primary School last night, while the remaining sessions will be held today and tomorrow.
Dr Wall said total pupil numbers at the area's primary schools and one secondary school had risen more than 40% in the past seven years, from about 2000 in 2009 to more than 2800 last year.
Other issues raised at the meeting included the need for a new primary school to service the Jacks Point and Hanley Downs subdivisions, and a call for schools to pool resources in subjects such as music, the arts and special education.
Ideas generated at the workshops will be the basis of an online survey that will be open from June 27 to July 15.
All workshops are covering the same topics, although tonight's session at St Joseph's School, starting at 6pm, will include a discussion about Catholic schooling in the area.
The remaining workshops take place tomorrow at Kingsview School (4.30pm), Queenstown Primary School (6pm) and Shotover Primary School (7.30pm).
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