Waverley College expansion: Residents, transport bosses object to $141.5m school expansion

Homeowners and NSW transport department officials have raised concerns over a $141.5m expansion plan by a top Sydney school that would see more than 200 more students taught at the college.

An eastern suburbs college has sparked traffic congestion fears as it embarks on a multimillion dollar expansion that would see student enrolments jump by more than 200.

Homeowners, Waverley Council and Transport for NSW have raised concerns over a $141.5m plan by Waverley College to upgrade the school with new sporting, teaching and “wellbeing” facilities for its students.

Plans by the school show the development would result in student numbers topping 1500 pupils – up 266 from current levels.

Transport for NSW has criticised the plans – stating no details have been provided to “demonstrate that the existing drop-off and pick-up areas have sufficient capacity to accommodate the future student population”.

There are also concerns over changes to bus services required for the development, which the transport department says is subject to driver and bus availability and “funding constraints”.

A concept image of the development.

The school’s plans – which are aimed at addressing enrolment demand in the local area – have prompted a flurry of objections from nearby residents amid concerns their streets could become clogged with cars during school pick up and drop off periods.

One submission stated the current road infrastructure is “already struggling to cope” during peak hours.

“It’s virtually impossible to cross over or enter (our) streets,” the submission stated.

The development includes new sporting facilities.

“The influx of students, staff and parents dropping off and picking up children will exacerbate this, posing safety risks to pedestrians and adding to the area’s already stressed parking situation,” another submission stated.

“The local roads are also often jammed, and adding more buildings or people to the area will only make things worse.

“There’s just not enough transport infrastructure to support the additional demand.’’

Traffic is already an issue for residents outside the school, according to submissions.

As part of the redevelopment, the total number of carparks at the college would drop from 87 to 73 which would be offset by new bike parking spaces.

Plans by the college stated traffic impacts would be partly addressed through a “green gravel plan” which would encourage staff and students to use public transport, ride bikes or walk to the school rather than travel by car.

The school stated encouraging the use of public transport would create “a more environmentally friendly campus”.

A concept image of the development.

But Waverley Council – in a submission to the NSW Government – stated the plans have not demonstrated how “significant increases” to traffic volumes would be addressed.

“It is also unclear how the college will successfully alter and manage the travel behaviour of its staff members so as to minimise additional traffic and demand for carparking within surrounding streets,” the submission stated.

Plans by the college stated there was a “pressing need” to upgrade the school’s current facilities that “have not seen significant improvements in over 30 years”.

The development would include a wellbeing centre and gym.

The development would include a new six storey building, sports facilities including tennis courts and a gym, a wellbeing centre and an expanded library.

“The primary motivation behind the proposed works is to provide contemporary facilities that cater to the needs of students, staff, and the community,” the plans stated.

In a statement, a spokesman for the school transport impact assessments found that existing drop-off and pick-up arrangements “were functioning well, with no queuing or delays observed which could be directly attributed to school operations”.

“The primary objective of the (proposal) is not to expand or increase student numbers but to introduce specialised learning spaces, such as the Science and Innovation Centre, to meet evolving educational needs,” he said.

The Planning Department is assessing the proposal as part of a ‘state significant’ development application process.

Public submissions show other concerns by residents include objections to tree removal, noise, and the “bulk and scale” of the development which one resident described as a “concrete jungle eyesore”.