NSW Education Minister Verity Firth has backed the recommendations of a recent inquiry and has decided to sell 10-hectares on the edge of the school to fund expensive but much-needed upgrades.

There were plans afoot to sell off 140ha of the 160ha institution.

As revealed in The Land last November, the government will in fact be obliged to increase the overall size of the school by 20ha because if it followed the report’s recommendation it would make use of a nearby 30ha.

Former Premier Nathan Rees had promised the inquiry’s findings, written by former NSW Farmers Association president Mal Peters, would be followed by the government.

And the education minister followed suit today when she announced the government would stick to the recommendations.

Ms Firth decided to:

• Establishing new, modern agricultural disciplines at the school

• create greater links between Hurlstone and neighbouring schools and agricultural research facilities.

• appoint a commercial manager for the operation of the boarding facility and farm.

• lease 30 hectares of land from a vacant adjoining site owned by the Department of Planning for the school to use, subject to the construction of the South West RailLink on part of the site.