155 submissions lodged for Al-Faisal College Liverpool campus expansion

Concerns a southwest Sydney college touted to become one of Sydney’s largest schools following a proposed $281m expansion could cause traffic congestion have been raised by the state government.

Artist impressions of the proposed Al-Faisal College expansion.

Concerns a southwest Sydney college - touted to become one of Sydney’s largest schools - following a proposed $281m expansion to build a new high school could cause traffic congestion have been raised by the state government.

Al-Faisal College submitted plans to expand the existing primary school on 83-87 and 79 Gurner Ave, Austral which opened in 2015 and build a new secondary school on 66 & 80 Gurner Ave.

Planning documents state the college’s transformation is expected to accommodate an increase of up to 5,460 in student numbers by 2042.

The expansion of the existing primary school will include a two-storey kindergarten building, school hall, playing fields, a three-storey building for years one to six and basement parking.

The secondary school will feature a four-storey building for school reception and administration, two three-storey buildings for years seven to 12 outdoor multipurpose sports courts.

Artist impressions of the proposed Al-Faisal College expansion.

The college currently operates as a kindergarten to year 12 school with a current enrolment of 778 with classes from kindergarten to year 10 and approved maximum capacity of 1,200.

Planners state the expansion was necessary to “accommodate the growth of the local community” as the population of Austral is expected to “increase over 1000% between 2020 to 2041”.

The Department of Planning responded to the plans before the NSW planning portal which received 155 submissions and raised concerns about the future traffic congestion in the area.

The Department called on the college to conduct a revised Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) to “account for the likely increases in traffic in the vicinity of the site” as student numbers increase.

“It (the TIA) should model the design traffic volume based on the forecast background traffic growth after five and 10-years,” the department said.

The department also called on the college to provide further details on the “timing, delivery and dedication” to Liverpool council for the sections of public road networks, including footpaths needed for the “school to operate in its entirety”.

Artist impressions of the proposed Al-Faisal College expansion.

Director of the Centre for Western Sydney at Western Sydney University Dr Rhonda Itaoui, said Liverpool, Camden and Campbelltown have seen a significant rise in the number of school-aged children and the Muslim community over the last decade.

“This increase means we need to not only build more schools to match our population’s growth but also offer education that respects and addresses the cultural needs of all communities, including Muslim residents,” she said.

Dr Itaoui said it was “reasonable to forecast a trend towards larger schools” to accommodate for the rising population in south west Sydney and the proposal needed to be “thoughtfully synchronised” with surrounding infrastructure, including roads and transport.

Transport NSW was one of 155 submissions and raised concerns the current daily and peak hour traffic conditions were “not fully assessed” in the Traffic Impact Assessment and said traffic from future developments in Austral were not considered in the proposal.

The existing Al-Faisal College campus in Austral. Picture: Google Maps.

Liverpool City Council also submitted concerns, including access to sewerage infrastructure alongside significant traffic congestion and requested a meeting with the college and Transport for NSW to “discuss the staged delivery of transport infrastructure to minimise traffic and transport impacts”.

The Department of Planning and Environment also questioned how the existing Austral Public School could be affected during construction as trucks will “utilise arterial roads, such as Fifteenth Av and Cowpasture Rd” around the school.

The plans have also been met with support from parents and community members.

Mount Pritchard resident Hatice Kocalar said: “I support the application because I want our children to get best education, Al Faisal College gives the best education for their students.”

Silvana El Assaad said the school would “create more jobs in the area.”

Al-Faisal College has been contacted for comment.