Googong primary students told to learn from home as bell rings

Googong Public School students are learning from home today following a water supply issue. Photo: Googong Primary School Facebook.

Googong Public School parents have been left scrambling after receiving a message that their children will have to learn from home today.

In the message sent at 8:24 am this morning (9 February) and seen by Region, parents were told the school had to close its doors immediately.

“Due to unknown reasons, we have no water on site at Googong Public School this morning so will be ceasing operations effective immediately,” the message stated.

“The students will be required to learn from home today due to safe hygiene.

“If your child is en route on the bus or is at OSHClub, you will be required to collect your child. We apologise for the inconvenience.”

Parents were digitally sent learning-from-home packs.

Some families seemed to take the inconvenience in their stride.

“We’re just going to have a play day at home today though (kindy student),” one mother wrote.

“I also have a kindy kid who is back in PJs and happily playing with her toys,” commented another.

In a Facebook post, Monaro MP Nichole Overall said the school closure was due to a water supply issue with Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC).

She said it appeared the school hadn’t been told about the council’s planned works, and that water was supposed to be reconnected at 5 am.

“We’ve contacted the council requesting they connect the school back to the water mains immediately,” Ms Overall wrote.

“I’m also discussing with the school and Department of Education what other supports we can put in place for parents and if it is possible to open the school at a later point today once council has restored water.”

The water issue has impacted homes in Googong as well, with many residents taking to the local Facebook group to ask what was happening.

A QPRC spokesperson confirmed the issue was due to council works.

“Last night we planned to cut-over to the new mains that will service the new public school as requested by School Infrastructure NSW,” they said.

“These works did not go to plan. We had a failure of some critical parts that required replacement and these replacement parts were secured this morning.”

The spokesperson said while the initial issue was fixed by 9 am, additional complications had arisen which also needed to be repaired.

“We now expect water to be restored by 4 pm today and regret the disruption this has caused,” they said.