Camden Council concerned with Oran Park High School planning

Camden State Liberal MP Chris Patterson has labelled Camden Council as “losing the plot’, after councillors resolved to object the proposed Oran Park High School..

Camden Council has lodge an objection followed the inclusion of only 10 car parking spaces for the proposed Oran Park High School. Artists impression by Perumal Pedavoli Architects.

CAMDEN State Liberal MP Chris Patterson has labelled Camden Council as “losing the plot’, after councillors resolved to object to the proposed Oran Park High School.

The council’s decision to lodge an objection followed the inclusion of only 10 car parking spaces for a 2000 capacity high school.

It believes parking spaces provided will be 194 spaces short of what is required.

Under the proposal, Oran Park Primary School will also be extended, doubling the number of staff.

Camden State Liberal MP has labelled Camden Council as ‘losing the plot’ after councillors resolved to object the proposed Oran Park High School. Picture: Toby Zerna

The council has listed concerns over concerns over traffic congestion, inadequate drop-off zones and thelocation of bus bays as among its objections to the new school.

It recommends relocating the Holden Drive bus bay and says the three bus spaces provided were inadequate. The council has compared the proposed three bays to the eight bus spaces available at Camden High School.

Independent councillor Eva Campbell labelled the the proposal as “monstrous” at last week’s council meeting, particularly its impact on student safety.

“This is the lives of people’s children,” she said. “The security of students around schools has been and is an issue for Camden.

“Oran Park Town is a new community, there is no excuse. What is being proposed is monstrous.”

Labor councillor Cindy Cagney agreed, believing the Oran Park Town community deserved better.

Camden Council director of planning and environment Nicole Magurren noted in the council’s objection the proposal was not in the public interest.

The proposed school is to be located on the corner of Holden Drive and South Circuit, Oran Park with landscaping honouring the old Oran Park Racetrack

Mr Patterson said the council’s objection against an $80 million, 2000 capacity school in the fastest growing electorate in NSW was “ludicrous”.

“Camden Council wants more parking than any other school in the state,” he said.

“I was flabbergasted when I heard the objection. It is a fantastic site.

“I do acknowledge 10 parking spaces is too few and the Education Minister is looking into it.”

Oran Park High School is expected to open in term one 2020.

Artists impression of the proposed Oran Park HS, as part of the Dept. of Planning and Environment exhibition. Design by Perumal Pedavoli Architects.

Camden Council unanimously supported a submission objecting the school’s development at the Council meeting last Tuesday, highlighting student safety and transport congestion.

Long-serving independent councillor Eva Campbell raised concerns of the safety of students around Camden schools, labelled the proposal as monstrous.

“This is the lives of people’s children,” she said. “The security of students around schools has been and is an issue for Camden.”

“Oran Park Town is a new community, there is no excuse. What is being proposed is monstrous.”

Labor councillor Cindy Cagney agreed, believing the Oran Park community deserved better.

The development includes an extension of Oran Park Primary School, more than doubling the number of staff alongside an additional 296 students.

Artists impression of the proposed Oran Park High School, as part of the Dept. of Planning and Environment exhibition. Design by Perumal Pedavoli Architects.

Camden Council’s objection to the development raised issues including traffic congestion, insufficient car parking, inadequate drop off zones and poor location of bus bays.

A total of ten car parking spaces has been proposed to support the 2000 capacity high school, with Camden Council indicating this is 194 spaces short of what is required.

It is also recommended by Council officers the bus bays are relocated from Holden Drive, as three bus spaces is considered inadequate, considering Camden High at half the capacity has eight spaces.

Camden Council director of planning and environment Nicole Magurren said considering the issues, the proposal isn’t in the public interest, in a Camden Council objection to the Department of Planning and Environment.

The school, located on the corner of Holden Drive and South Circuit, Oran Park will include featured landscaping, highlighting the history of the old Oran Park Racetrack.

The target date for construction of Oran Park High School is late 2019, to open at the commencement of term one, 2020.