The students’ submission to council came from a classroom science and technology unit focussing on how to develop and build community amenities.

Once completed the students invited Cr Desmae Harrison to visit the school and hear them present their ideas.

Cr Harrison was so impressed with the students’ work she has undertaken to organise a second presentation to brief other members of council.

Services and facilities identified by students include child care centres, after school clubs, BMX and motorbike tracks and a show jumping ring. 

The Years Four and Five students analysed their local environment, looked at what services, buildings and businesses exist in Dorrigo and identified how these had been built for a particular purpose. 

Under the direction of teacher Ms Angela Mills students discussed what they would like to see in Dorrigo.

“I saw that they had some really good ideas and even though it wasn't the intended aim of the unit, I decided to run with it to see where it took us,” Ms Mills said.

“Students created a design overview of their idea, utilised Google maps to decide on a location, created plans and found images online to identify what they thought it should look like.

“They then combined all of these elements to create a 'council submission'. 

“As a class they drafted an email to Cr Desmae Harrison inviting her to the school so they could present their ideas. 

“Cr Harrison was very impressed and would like to organise for us to present the students’ findings to other council members.”

School Principal, Ms Tanya Bajda, said she was excited by the students’ creativity and looking forward to hearing the responses of other councillors.