$60m Catholic school set to be built at new Riverlea housing development

It will be built to cater for the 40,000 residents of the major new housing development in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

A $60m Catholic school is set to be built in the new Riverlea housing development.

Catholic Education announced the plans for the new school on the Riverlea site in Adelaide’s north on Monday, which will initially cater for students from Reception to Year 6 when it opens in 2027.

Construction ois set to begin next year on the school, which is the first to cater for the 40,000 residents of Walker Corporation’s Riverlea masterplanned community.

The Catholic school will include a multistorey design with contemporary classrooms and facilities.

Riverlea residents Chloe and her daughter Lilly, 7, with their new puppy Leah. Picture: Supplied

An aerial view showing the position of Riverlea's first school. Picture: Supplied.

It will also have an early learning centre for children aged between six months and 5, with an out of school hours care available to enrolled students.

Stage one of the school build is set to cost $60m, with future plans to expand to include classes for students through to Year 12.

About 1300 people are set to work on construction of the school.

Riverlea resident Sonia Kandel said when her family chose to move to Riverlea, it was important their five-month-old son had access to “great education and amenities close to home”.

“It’s exciting knowing that when he’s ready to go to school, he can be at the same one from beginning to end with his friends from the area,” Ms Kandel, a primary school teacher, said.

Riverlea residents Sonia and Nabin Kandel with their five month old son, Nehan. Picture: Supplied

Another resident, Chloe Hallam, said she couldn’t wait for her kids Lilly, 7 and David, 4, “to be able to walk to and from school in a safe environment”.

Catholic Education executive director Dr Neil McGoran said he was “pleased” to expand schooling options in the northern suburbs.

“The school will be the 120th Catholic school campus in South Australia,” Dr McGoran said.

“This new school development is part of our commitment to expanding Catholic Education pathways and building an even stronger focus on student learning and quality teaching.”

Walker Corporation managing director and chief executive David Gallent said the school would give “thousands of families access to high quality education”.

It would ensure “kids and parents only have a short walk from their front door to the school gates”, Mr Gallant said.

“Quality education has always been one of the central pillars in our vision for Riverlea.”

It comes just over a month after it was announced that a new $30m Catholic school was set to be established to cater for growing demand in Strathalbyn and the surrounding area.

The new primary school will be a campus of St Francis de Sales College and will cater for students in Reception to Year 6 with the possibility of future expansion to Year 9 depending on demand.

Plans for the first stage of the eight-hectare campus, subject to council approval, include contemporary learning spaces, sports facilities and an oval.

St Francis de Sales College principal Andrew Baker said he was “confident that local families will welcome the opportunity”.