Section 6(2) of the Government Information (Public Access) Act provides that mandatory access information is to be publicly available on the agency’s website unless to do so would impose unreasonable additional costs on the agency. Clause 2 of the Government information (Public Access) Regulation 2009 requires that Government departments make publicly available under open-access information a list of the department’s major assets, other than land holdings, appropriately classified and highlighting major acquisitions during the previous financial year and the total number and total value of properties disposed of by the department during the previous financial year.

In the financial year 2021-2022 the NSW Department of Education had responsibility for over 2,200 items of major assets and 8,500 hectares of property.

1. Major assets other than land holdings include:

• 1603 primary schools
• 66 central schools
• 112 schools for specific purposes (SSPs)
• 22 environmental education centres
• 401 secondary schools
• 8,578 hectares of school land

2. Classified major acquisitions:

• Classification - Property, Plant and Equipment
• Total number - 6,382
• Total value $1.6 billion

Note – major acquisitions are defined as Property, plant and equipment costing $10,000 and above which are individually (or forming part of a network costing more than $10,000) capitalised.

3. Properties disposed of by the Department:

• 6 parcels of land
• 2 former school sites
• 12 properties were disposed of in financial year 2021-2022
• Total value $3.1 million

Note: The net proceeds from the sale of surplus assets are used to maintain and upgrade school facilities. No properties were disposed of by public auction or tender where they had a value of more than $5 million.

4. Gross Carrying Amount (replacement value) for Property, Plant & Equipment was $59.2 billion

5. The accumulated depreciation was $18.4 billion

6. The Net Carrying Amount in the Statement of Financial Position is $40.8 billion

The department’s website provides a large amount of school information which can be viewed at http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-the-department.

Additionally, the department’s annual report contains more detailed information about the department’s financial position for the reporting year. Please note that the while the Department reports on a calendar year basis (January to December), financial information is usually collated on a financial year basis (July to June). Annual reports can be viewed at: http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-us/how-we-operate/annual-reports.