Angle Vale residents warn about potential hazards for new super school
Residents near a proposed super school have warned about potential hazards to its 1700 students — from shooting their guns at pests to dust storms and bushfires.
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Residents who regularly shoot pests on properties next to a proposed super school are concerned about frightening its hundreds of students.
A delegation has made a presentation to a State Government committee considering a planning application to build the $104 million school at Angle Vale.
Nearby residents first learnt about the new “Birth to Year 12” school when The Advertiser revealed that the Education Department had compulsorily acquired a market garden on Riverbanks Rd.
Spokeswoman Shirley Bell this week told the State Commission Assessment Panel that she and other landowners frequently shot firearms on their vineyards and almond orchards to control pests such as corellas and pigeons.
Mrs Bell said the shooting would continue when the new school opened, creating a possible issue for students and staff who might experience anxiety.
“Shooting is a very common practice on the eastern side of Riverbanks Rd for reasons that are consistent with its rural zoning,” she said.
“There is nothing illegal about shooting in front of the school as long as we are on our own properties.”
Mrs Bell said there had been no consultation with residents about potential risks to the school, which also included “dust devils”, spray drift from pesticides and fires similar to the blaze in December which threatened homes at Hillier, Angle Vale, Kudla and Munno Para.
“The fire came within 50 to 100 metres of our homes and would have been very close to where they want to put the school,” she said.
Mrs Bell said residents were not opposed to the school but wanted nearby land use to be compatible. The solution to stop shooting and chemical spraying from adversely affecting the school was to rezone the land on its eastern side from agricultural to medium density housing.
“It’s been abandoned for agricultural and horticulture as it has become unviable,” she said. “The land is currently used in a rural living way by most landholders.”
The consultant managing the project for the Education Department, Greg Vincent from MasterPlan, told the hearing it was “inevitable” that issues such as those raised by Mrs Bell would emerge when there was “interface” between two different types of zoning.
He acknowledged the use of firearms, fire danger and spray drift needed to be factored into the management of the school.
“It’s about developing a culture between the department and the community,” he said.
“The Education Department is aware of the issues and is preparing to have ongoing consultation with residents.”
Construction of the school is planned to start later this year, with its opening scheduled for 2022.
It will have 1675 students, a childcare facility, sports grounds and gymnasium available for public use.