Road deal sealed: Warriappendi School gets new $25 million campus near the city

A new look has been revealed for a school forced to move as part of the River Torrens to Darlington project.

A school for Aboriginal students will be forced to move due to a major highway redevelopment project, with public consultation on the project closing on Tuesday.

Warriappendi School is currently based at Marleston and serves 80 Aboriginal high school students.

However, in September it was announced the school would shift to a new campus at Thebarton because of the River Torrens to Darlington project – the last instalment of the North-South Corrdior project.

AutoCAD render of the new Warriappendi school campus at Thebarton. Picture: Supplied

The proposed site of the new Warriappendi school. Picture: Supplied

According to planning documents, the new campus would accommodate 150 students and cost about $25 million to construct.

It will arrive with the backing of Warriappendi School principal Craig Bailey, who said “everyone associated with this school community is excited and proud to see this project formally launched”.

The current Warriappendi school campus at Marleston. Picture: Google Street View

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis said while it was “impossible to construct a major piece of infrastructure like the River Torrens to Darlington project without disruption,” it was “crucial” to mitigate the impact.

“The school’s relocation to enhanced premises is a terrific result, not only for the school, but also for the wider community in the inner western suburbs of Adelaide,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“The students and staff will benefit from better facilities, while also playing a role in enlivening an area that has the potential to become a popular riverside location for sport and recreation within an otherwise highly urbanised part of our city.”

The completed North-South Corridor will minimise traffic between a 78km stretch of road between Gawler and Old Noarlunga.

It will allow driver to bypass 21 sets of traffic lights between the River Torrens to Darlington, according to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

Residents can send feedback about the project through PlanSA until Tuesday November 28.