City of Parramatta Council has expressed serious concerns about plans to build a new primary school, church and early learning centre as part of a major redevelopment at a site in the centre of Westmead.
In a submission lodged with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Council formally objected to the proposed Westmead Catholic Community Education Campus at 2 Darcy Road.
“The City of Parramatta supports the role the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta plays in the growth of our City and welcomes the expansion and creation of school facilities to meet increasing demand,” Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.
“However, the concentration of activities on this site – with its limited accessibility – has undesirable consequences that Council is unable to support.
“The planned development will negatively impact traffic in the area and reduce the amount of open space and recreational facilities that our community needs.”
The site currently comprises a primary school and two high schools, with a combined 2767 students.
The State Significant Development Application seeks to build a new primary school for 1680 students, expand existing facilities at Mother Teresa Primary School and relocate the existing Sacred Heart Primary School at Ralph Street. It also proposes a new Parish church and early learning centre for an additional 200 children.
“Westmead has the largest concentration of health services in Australia and, with the addition of a major university campus, is becoming a world-class innovation precinct. It’s important that any supporting development does not detract from the area’s key medical and health functions,” Cr Dwyer said.
“Council is keen to work with the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta to explore options that would address our concerns, including reducing proposed student numbers, expanding students numbers at other sites to help meet demand, and additional roads or shareways.”
