Hills Shire Council, Castle Hill MP Ray Williams call for more parking at new Kellyville North Public School
RESIDENTS have blasted the State Government after it was revealed there would be no parking provided at Kellyville North Public School when it opens in 2020.
Hills Shire
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RESIDENTS have blasted the State Government after it was revealed there would be no parking provided at Kellyville North Public School when it opens in 2020.
The school, which was announced in 2016 and will commence construction at 120 Hezlett Rd, North Kellyville this year, has come under the spotlight after concerns were raised around a lack of parking to be provided.
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North Ward councillor Brooke Collins called for an investigation to take place at a local government level, while urging the government to provide parking for staff and parents at the school “from day one”.
“This will cause North Kellyville residents an enormous amount grief because of a lack of planned parking form the State Government,” Cr Collins said.
“The streets and laneways are already congested and there will be no parking opportunities in the vicinity around the school.
“I will move a motion at the next council meeting to investigate opportunities for kiss and drop locations, teachers parking, visitor parking and a bus bay to cater for the school.”
Cr Collins questioned whether teachers would be forced to ride the bus to school with students.
“We want to know what the government can do before the school opens, not after,” he said.
“If we don’t address this, it will snowball alongside other issued in the North Kellyville precinct, so we need answers now.”
The school is set to house 1000 students and 80 full time staff when it opens and include 40 teaching spaces.
Castle Hill state Liberal MP Ray Williams said he joined the chorus of concerns around a “grossly inadequate amount of parking for the school”.
“All previous schools constructed around the Hills would have a lot more parking than what is being provided for Kellyville North Public School, so I understand and support the resident concerns,” Mr Williams said.
“This will dramatically impact local streets, so I will be raising this issue with the Education Minister as soon as possible because this school will open before we know it.”
A Planning Department spokeswoman said consent conditions would ensure the school had access to 70 carparking spaces within two years of the school opening.
“These conditions include requirements for 12 on-site carparking spaces, along with 44 carparking spaces on Hipwell Avenue,” the spokeswoman said. “These spaces will be created by an extension of the existing road.
“The Department considered as part of its decision-making process a Hills Shire Council proposal to construct 29 community carparking spaces on the grounds of a future community football field, also on Hipwell Avenue.”
The spokeswoman said the department required the school to provide 14 off-site carparking spaces at either that facility, with council’s agreement, or at another off-street location in the local area.
However, development application reports only outlined plans for 12 parking spaces at the school, including two accessible spaces.
An Education department spokesman refused to answer specific question regarding the 68 car parking shortfall for staff.
“New schools and school upgrades maximise areas for teaching, learning and play space,” the spokesman said.
“The North Kellyville new primary school Sustainable Transport Plan promotes the use of sustainable travel choices such as walking, cycling, and using public transport.
“In terms of additional transport options, the school is located near the proposed Kellyville Sydney Metro Station, bus services and other public parking and street parking options.”