New super school tipped for Adelaide’s south
THE Education Department is considering building a new “super school” in the southern suburbs to cope with the region’s rising population. Here’s where.
THE Education Department is considering building a new “super school” in the southern suburbs — possibly in Aldinga — to cope with the region’s rising population.
The department is conducting a feasibility study into the new birth-to-Year 12 school, examining demographics and how areas are served by public transport and road access.
The department’s executive director of infrastructure, Ross Treadwell, said the community and Onkaparinga Council would be consulted on the need for a new school in coming months.
“The study is in the planning phase and a better understanding of education requirements will be known once the feasibility study is completed early next year,” Mr Treadwell said.
“The study will include investigation of the provision of early childhood education as well as special education.”
Onkaparinga’s population has grown by 11 per cent in the past decade, from about 152,000 in 2005 to 169,000 in 2015, according to latest Australian Bureau of Statistic data.
Latest Census figures from 2011 showed just under 20 per cent of Onkaparinga’s population was aged 19 and under.
Seaford was the fastest-growing suburb in SA in 2015, attracting 760 new residents at a growth rate of 3.5 per cent.
Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said the last public school built in the district was Seaford Rise Primary in 1995.
“I think we’re well and truly ready for a new school … because we’ve had a lot of growth since (then),” Ms Rosenberg said.
“It appears that the Aldinga area is the likely spot they’re looking at.
“If the school is built somewhere in that locality, it would really fit in with the work we’re trying to do.”
The council is working on plans for a $5.6 million Aldinga District Centre upgrade, which will include a recreation centre, mall, library and town square.
Ms Rosenberg said the government would soon release a parcel of land bordered by Aldinga Beach, Main South and Quinliven roads for housing, making the need for a new school even more pressing.
Aldinga Bay Residents Association president Kevin Hutton said the suburb’s population would almost double once that land was subdivided.
More than 400 people lived in Aldinga and almost 10,000 in Aldinga Beach, according to Census data.
“That’s a lot that’s going to be released next … and probably the last to be released down here,” Mr Hutton said.
“I guess this is where the population growth is (so) this would be the place to have (a new school).”
The State Government introduced a $216 million super school infrastructure plan in 2006.
Under that plan, 18 schools were merged into six.
The Education Department said it was too early to speculate on a time frame for a new southern school.