The new site for the Richmond River campus will be built in North Lismore, near the saleyards.
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The Education Department has confirmed it is in the process of acquiring land along Dunoon Road, at 163 and 170 Alexandra Parade for the new campus.
The school on Lake St was destroyed in the 2022 floods, and the decision was made not to return to the site.
![The site at 163 and 170 Alexandra Parade at North Lismore has been revealed as the site of the new Rivers College Richmond River High campus. Picture by NSW Department of Education The site at 163 and 170 Alexandra Parade at North Lismore has been revealed as the site of the new Rivers College Richmond River High campus. Picture by NSW Department of Education](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/154120782/19978986-c3bd-4c97-b4d0-982e3b90d2cd.png/r18_12_860_510_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Students have been studying in temporary buildings at the Lismore High campus since the disaster.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said she was "really happy" that the school was being rebuilt in North Lismore.
"It's where it belongs on the northside. It's great for all the families that go there," Ms Saffin said.
"it's also great for Lismore. It means that Lismore not only thrives, it survives."
"This follows an extensive search for potential sites. Our process considered the planning criteria for a flood resilient campus, and the community's vision for public secondary education in Lismore and the surrounding areas," the department said.
"The location reflects the community's preference for a new campus within the existing RRHC catchment and its strong connection with primary school partners. Additionally, it maintains the rural identity of the RRHC by enabling the agriculture facilities and sports fields to be on a single school site."
Next steps
The Department is continuing negotiations with the landowners to acquire the site.
It is consulting with the Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC to understand the context of the site's setting in Country. This is to ensure that Widjabul Wia-bal's cultural heritage is considered and reflected in the design of the new campus.
The department is working with relevant stakeholders to progress the rezoning of the land to allow for a new educational facility to be built on the site.
Now that a preferred option has been confirmed the department are developing the campus design with the project stakeholders to align with the delivery schedule.
The masterplan and concept designs for the new RHHC campus will be shared with students, staff and the P&C in Term 3, 2024.
"Rebuilding RRHC is a significant milestone in realising the community's vision for public secondary school education for generations of young people in Lismore and the surrounding areas," the department said.