Completed during the July holidays, students returned to school to find their playground completely transformed thanks to a funding from the state government and a significant fundraising campaign by the school’s P&C.

School principal Ruth McGlashan said the children couldn’t have been more excited about the development. 

“I told them before the holidays that there would be a surprise waiting for them when they got back,” she said.

“They were so excited, they have just been rolling around in it ever since.”

Dubbed ‘cement city’ by former students, Cessnock West has had virtually no grass on the school grounds – until now.

With a $16,000 contribution from the State Government as part of the Community Building Partnership program, the school’s P&C raised almost $20,000 for the project and the school added $17,500.

Member for Cessnock Clayton Barr said that the new playground was a terrific example of the community partnerships.

“I am really happy to see where the funding has gone,” he said.

“It is a real success story for partnerships between the school, the P&C and the community itself.

“It’s even better to see the kids enjoying it so much.”

The P&C would like to thank all of the local families and business who assisted with the fundraising events.