Long Jetty: Our Lady of the Rosary lodges $8.8M renovation plans to increase student numbers

A tiny Central Coast primary school has lodged $8.8 million knock-down-rebuild plans to accommodate nearly 100 more students in its biggest capital works project in 14 years.

An artist’s impression of the new combined Block D and H building. Picture: supplied

A second Catholic primary school in as many months has lodged multimillion-dollar renovation plans to accommodate a growing number of students.

Our Lady of The Rosary (OLR) at Shelly Beach has lodged plans for an $8.8 million capital works project which, if approved, would see the construction of a new car park, and the demolition and rebuilding of Blocks D and H, the removal of demountable classrooms and a refurbished library.

The school opened on the 2ha site with just six classrooms in 1974 and the project would be the biggest building works since the existing hall was built in 2009.

According to the development application (DA) the plans would enable the school to increase its enrolments by nearly 100 from its existing 535 students to 630 and the equivalent of three more full-time equivalent teaching staff.

It comes after Our Lady Star of the Sea at Terrigal — also part of the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay — lodged plans for a $7 million upgrade, which would see its student numbers increase by up to 80 within two years.

Our Lady Star of the Sea, at Terrigal, has lodged its first major capital works plans since the school opened on the site in 2001 worth $7 million. Picture: supplied

OLR’s renovations would be built over three stages with the first being a new 10-space car park and new driveway onto Shelly Beach Rd.

The new car park will result in a net increase of nine spaces with one space to be lost from the existing 32 spots located at the front and eastern side of the school.

A new car park will be built that will lead to an overall increase of nine parking spots to the existing two car parks. Picture: supplied

Under the site’s planning controls the proposed increase in students would require an additional 14 pick-up/drop-off spaces.

However according to the DA’s traffic impact study there are enough existing spaces in the surrounding side streets — at least 37 — to accommodate the increase.

“The traffic, parking and acoustic impacts generated by the proposed development are considered to be acceptable,” the DA concludes.

“The design of the proposed development has carefully considered the existing site conditions, environmental constraints and surrounding context.

“The proposal will also cater for the anticipated future growth of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School.”

The small school on Shelly Beach Rd will undergo its biggest capital works program since 2009. Picture: supplied

The second stage would see the demolition of existing Block D and H, which would be rebuilt with a covered walkway between the two.

The new Block D will comprise three general learning areas (GLA’s), a breakout space and a lobby, along with an internal lift and staircase.

The ground floor of the new Block H will comprise three GLA’s, a breakout space,

and a storage space while the first floor would include nine classrooms a seminar room and an “expansive breakout space”.

New toilet facilities would be provided on the first floor of Block H.

Blocks C and E would be refurbished under the plans to include a new library.

Given the capital investment of the project is more than $5 million it will go before the joint Hunter Central Coast Regional Planning Panel for approval.