Dapto Public School: Education Infrastructure reveal $18m plan for school expansion
Plans to demolish ageing demountables for dozens of new classrooms at a Wollongong school will be decided next week. See the vision for the school here.
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Dapto Public School is set to benefit from an $18 million expansion, including the removal of 14 demountable classrooms and building 20 new classrooms.
The Education Department submitted plans to Wollongong Council in July, with plans being determined by a NSW Planning Panel next week.
A planner for the Education Department proposal said the development, which includes plans for a three-storey school building, an expanded library and revitalised canteen, would facilitate a school population increase to 870 students.
“Dapto Public School has a current enrolment of 738 students with 36 staff,” the planner said.
“Current buildings on site include seven single-storey brick buildings with covered outdoor
learning area, a covered games courts, 14 demountable classrooms and three shed structures.”
A Wollongong Council planner called for the Southern Regional Planning Panel to approve the development application.
“The works are proposed to be undertaken in two phases,” the council planner revealed.
“The first phase comprises construction of Blocks H and I, along with the alterations and additions to Blocks A and D.
“The second phase comprises of the removal of the demountable classrooms and construction of the additional staff carpark.”
Surrounding residents and the council raised concerns around the height of the buildings proposed, fears of overcrowding, view loss and construction impacts.
“The 132 additional students – 17.9 per cent increase – is necessary in this instance due to the area being in an urban growth area where the provision of new school has not yet been established,” the council planner said.
“The site is of sufficient size to accommodate the number of proposed student and staff. As the demountable buildings are to be replaced with the new buildings the additional numbers are considered reasonable.”
The planning panel will determine the fate of the proposal in a teleconference meeting on April 15.