NSW Premier Chris Minns is on a mission to rid regional areas of the preschool deserts which have long frustrated parents away from the big cities.

Minns visited the site for a new public preschool next to Bomaderry Public School to help start construction, one of 10 new facilities for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions which are set to open in early 2027.

There will be another 10 built in regional areas of the state as part of the NSW Government’s $769 million investment in public early learning.

All public preschools will be co-located with local public schools, supporting children’s transition into kindergarten and easing pick-up and drop-off for parents with older students at the same school.

The preschools will offer high-quality early education within state-of-the-art learning facilities which will include landscaped outdoor playground areas.

Once complete they will provide places for up to 9000 additional children to access high-quality early education in their local community.

“Providing the best possible start for our children is one of the most important investments any government can make,” Minns said.

“Families in rural and regional NSW have told us they are struggling to find affordable, high-quality early learning close to home.

“That’s exactly what these new public preschools in the regions will help fix – like this one right here in Bomaderry.

“The former government didn’t build a single public preschool in 12 years. We’re building 100 in our first term, that are co-located with public schools so parents can also avoid the double drop-off.”

He said there was a flow-on effect from this investment in preschools.

“This is a crucial part of equity and fairness for families in regional communities,” Minns added.

“It's incredibly important in lifting female participation in the workforce because we know where there are early childhood education deserts, there's less opportunities for both partners to be in the workforce.

“When you live in one of the most expensive housing markets in the world, that is absolutely crucial and hugely necessary.

“And this $770 million public preschool program is going to make a major difference in the communities where this program is being run out.”

Kiama MP Katelin McInerney described the Bomaderry preschool as “an important resource for our families”.

“When I first stood (for election) in 2023, I spoke to hundreds of families in this community, and one of the things that they were telling me at the time was that we needed more quality preschool places for our youngest learners,” she said.

“It's going to be a really well-appreciated asset, and I'm so proud to have done my part to make sure that we have our littlest learners in the best possible environment, getting the best possible start.

“I’m delighted that construction is underway and the school will soon be welcoming its first class of preschoolers.”

Member for South Coast Liza Butler added: “The preschools we are building at Greenwell Point, Sanctuary Point, and the brand-new Worrigee Public School will give more children the best possible start to their education, right in the heart of their local community.”

“As a child of parents who were both teachers and many, many family members that are currently teachers, I know the importance of early education and access to free public early education.”

For Bomaderry Public School principal Dionne Hanbidge, they have been advocating for an onsite preschool “because we truly understand how much our children and families will benefit from this local early learning opportunity”.

“Having a public preschool right here on our school grounds is pretty close to a dream come true, as it will not only provide high-quality early education but also create a seamless transition for our children as they move into kindergarten.”

Among the other preschools which are part of the public preschool construction program are Barrack Heights, Berkeley West, Cringila, Greenwell Point, Hayes Park, Lake Heights and Sanctuary Point.