The new Richmond River High Campus concept designs were revealed to the public for the first time at a community meeting at the current temporary site in East Lismore last night.

Overwhelmingly, staff, parents of students and parents of future students gave the design and explanation the thumbs up.

The NSW Department of Education has spent the last twelve months seeking community consultation before purchasing the land in North Lismore, just north of the Lismore Saleyards, and drawing up the concept designs.

Primary school students were excited to be going to a brand-new high school in 2027, while younger current students, are excited by the opportunity to finish their schooling in North Lismore.

"Impressive" was the most common phrase heard on the night, along with "It's good to see the school will have an ag component. That has been its point of difference."

(An artist impression of the new high school looking from the sporting fields)

Richmond River Principal Luke Woodward told the Lismore App, "It's really, really exciting to see the potential for what our new site will look like and also give us something to look forward to after what's been a very, very challenging period of time.

"You know, we really support our young people. We do an amazing job teaching them, and having a state-of-the-art facility will just be amazing. It will really support what we do with our young people.

The loose completion date is 2027, another aspect that impressed Luke.

"It's really exciting to consider that it is a relatively short timeframe for a build of this size. And I like the idea of bringing the infrastructure to the town, putting us back into North Lismore, which is our drawing area, and paying homage to both our sporting, agriculture and creative prowess in what I believe is the best school in Lismore."

"All the parents that I've spoken to tonight are all really positive around what they've seen and how good it looks in the landscape, and excited for the young people to get over there. Some of the parents have said, based on the time my kids will finish there, which is really exciting to hear.

Director Educational Leadership, Department of Education for the Lismore Network Nickie Bartlett appears to have ticked two boxes now, following the South Lismore Public School announcement nearly three weeks ago. Nickie's feedback was also very positive on the night.

"Overwhelmingly positive feedback around the concept designs, overwhelmingly positive feedback about the school being placed within the community that it was situated prior to the floods, and also feedback from staff as well about having a school that was so central to community in that North and South Lismore area being rebuilt back better.

Nickie kept hearing that keeping the agricultural side of the school was important to parents.

"The school's got quite a history around its agricultural facilities. So, where the school is being placed, it's still a nod to that history and heritage around it being that mix of the rural but still close to town, where we can still get those town links as well and still be part of that town community, but also be part of the rural community, which is so important to the Richmond River High Campus."

Another major talking point was the new high school being built above the PMF (probable maximum flood). Yes, the sporting fields will go under during a major flood, but the infrastructure will not need a cleanout to restart learning. It only needs a few days for the roads to clear. This is the same for many CBD businesses if the levee is overtopped.

The new Richmond River High Campus will be built back like for like, so the size of the school will remain in the 700-900 students. The student population has decreased since February 2022 and the move to temporary demountable structures next to the Lismore High Campus on Military Road.

The campus will have a rural outlook and look down onto the sporting fields. It will comprise 20 general classrooms, 3 support classrooms and specialist learning spaces as part of a three-storey high building. Entry will be via Alexandra Parade from Dunoon Road (Alexandra Parade will extend from the showgrounds).

(The Lismore Showgrounds to the right and the new RRHS to the left)

The next steps is for further community consultation, including with the traditional owners of the site, before the schematic design plans are finalised and a planning application is lodged. The land will be re-zoned to allow for an educational facility.

A tender will be issued to award the building contract, and the build is expected to be complete by 2027.