On the final day of Term 3, the NSW Department of Education confirmed demolition of the damaged buildings can now begin.
It follows the completion of the insurance assessment following the deliberately lit fire at the school in November, and the release of funds to complete the clean up and then rebuild.
The department will establish a Project Reference Group (PRG) to help guide the project as it moves forward.
The group will include school leadership, technical experts, representatives from School Infrastructure NSW and a community representative.
The department has already announced the community representative will be a Deni High P&C member.
An architect will be appointed to develop designs for the rebuild, with different options to be explored before a preferred design is selected.
The department expects to have a preferred option and design ready in early 2027, which will then be presented to the community through an information session and project updates.
Deniliquin High School P&C president Vincent Kelly welcomed the announcement, describing it as an important step forward for the school community.
“This is welcome news, and we must acknowledge our school leaders and members within the department who have advocated for the outcome of a knock down and rebuild rather than a refurbishment of what remained,” he said.
Mr Kelly said the timeframe for demolition had not yet been confirmed, and noted demolition may not occur until immediately before construction begins.
In the meantime, Mr Kelly said support for P&C fundraising initiatives to help with the DHS fire recovery has been growing.
It will include a very special new fundraiser at the Deni Ute Muster, hosted by Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure workers who have temporarily relocated to Deniliquin.
The workers have partnered with the Deni Ute Muster to operate the ‘Taste of India - Curry for a Cause’ food truck this weekend.
All profits from the food truck will be donated to the Deniliquin High School P&C.
And Mr Kelly said this is only the start of Abergeldie's assistance with the recovery project.
“In the lead up to the Ute Muster, the team have been approaching their business partners, businesses they are working within the delivery of the construction projects, seeking for those businesses to make donations to the P&C,” Mr Kelly said.
“This has generated a significant financial boost to the P&C and donations continue to role in.”
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