Resident fears over new $35m Endeavour College campus plans at Mawson Lakes

Residents have slammed a $35m waterfront school development at Mawson Lakes, claiming they were blindsided by plans that raise safety and traffic concerns. Vote in the poll.

A $35m new waterfront private primary school campus at Mawson Lakes has become the subject of scrutiny following concerns for safety, a lack of transparency and traffic congestion.

Endeavour College revealed plans in July for their new three storey primary school building, to cater for up to 378 new students from reception to year 6 and set to open in 2027.

But it has since drawn criticism from residents including teacher Kaliese McIlvena, 30, who said there are “a lot of disgruntled people” left blindsided by the plans.

Leadership at Endeavour College and Salisbury Council say the community was given the opportunity to discuss the development and the build will be safe for students.

Endeavour College has revealed plans for a new $35m primary school. Picture: Supplied.

Ms McIlvena, a teacher at a different private school, said a lot of residents “didn’t even know” about the project “until they saw the fences going up.”

“It’s frustrating because people enjoy that environment and we’re being excluded from these conversations.”

She argued traffic congestion in the area would only become worse with the development.

“Driving there at peak hour is going to be a pain if you have parents dropping off kids and I can’t see traffic flowing at all,” Ms McIlvena said.

She also doubted the safety of the location of the new build on the waterfront.

“I wonder how they plan to evacuate 300 odd staff and students in an emergency over the footbridge?” the resident said.

“Are they just going to jump in the lake?”

Endeavour College has revealed plans for a new $35m primary school. Picture: Supplied.

But Endeavour College principal Richard Baird refuted the claims and said “direct invitations for feedback” were shared via newsletters, social media and a letterbox drop to more than 5500 homes.

The project received planning approval by the Council Assessment Panel following a three-month notification period.

Mr Baird said the footbridge to the new build would allow for secure and easy movement of students.

“The safety of our students is our highest priority,” he said.

The building will be fully enclosed from the lake, restricting access by students.

The school is working with traffic engineers to develop options “to optimise traffic flow” once the new campus is open including a new internal driveway and pick-up and drop off zones specifically for the junior school students.

The new build will also have 14 learning areas, a library and STEM spaces.

The campus will have purpose-built music tutorial rooms, outdoor play and learning areas and a central hub for assemblies, performances, sport and community events.

A Salisbury Council spokeswoman said as part of the planning process, the school proposed additional improvements to carparking arrangements to increase traffic flow and there was “no destruction of natural habitat as a result of the proposal”.

Originally published as Resident fears over new $35m Endeavour College campus plans at Mawson Lakes