The school was closed in December 2014 and WSCET has hosted more than 250 community events at the site in the two years since.

The site has been declared surplus to educational requirements by the NSW Government and a property disposal plan is being prepared, with WSCET’s current usage agreement to cease at the end of the school holidays.

Hunter Mobile Preschool, which was based at the former school two days a week, will operate out of Wollombi Hall in 2017.

But WSCET hopes support by Cessnock City Council will boost their campaign to keep the site in community hands.

The council has reaffirmed its December 2014 support for retaining public ownership of the school site, approving a notice of motion by Ward A councillors Paul Dunn (Liberal), Allan Stapleford (independent) and Mark Lyons (Labor) at Wednesday’s meeting.

The motion asked council to begin actions to have the school site (which is on council’s heritage register) included on the state and national heritage register.

Cr Stapleford said it would be “a disaster” if the school site was lost to the community.

Lindy Williams – who was P and C president when the school closed – said the support has been stronger and more far-reaching this time around.

“It’s a different fight this time; it’s a whole community issue,” she said.

“And who knows when the valley will need another school?”

WSCET has hosted the preschool, history talks, indigenous programs, art workshops, film nights and prenatal classes at the premises since April 2015.

“We have shown that we can receive great patronage from the community and further afield,” the group’s president Frank Ganino said.