Roseville College plan for new sport, wellness facilities hits roadblock from planning authorities

Plans by Roseville College to build rooftop sports courts and a student wellness centre have been decided on. It follows local opposition from residents and the council.

A concept plans of the redevelopment.

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Plans by a north shore school for a multistorey sport and wellbeing centre have been given the green light after the project hit a hurdle from council planners and sparked objections from local residents.

A rooftop sports courts facility and a 25m indoor pool with a grandstand will be built at Roseville College after the development plans were approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission on Friday.

The $29.5million project will also have a ‘strength and conditioning’ gym for students, new food and technology hubs, classrooms, basement level carparking and landscaping works.

The independent Anglican school said the three storey project would replace ageing infrastructure and bring facilities at the school – including the 48-year-old pool – up to modern standards.

The new facilities would also encourage students to “embrace healthy lifestyle habits as a foundation for well-balanced, happy lives,” the school said.

The decision by the IPC came after the project was refused by Ku-ring-gai Council and generated concerns from residents over the bulk and scale of the building, traffic and privacy impacts from the rooftop sports court.

An artist's impression of the proposed development

A public meeting with residents also had locals question the need for the development, impacts on the character of the surrounding heritage conservation area, and the proposed shared use of sporting facilities with community groups.

Another contentious point was the school’s plan to demolish a home next to the college at 37 Bancroft Ave to make way for the new facility.Neighbours Sean and Melissa Hogan told the IPC the demolition was “hardly in the public interest” and called for the project to be refused.

“We appreciate that Roseville College should be able to upgrade its facilities – However, the school should not be allowed to continually expand its footprint to do so, particularly if that involves the acquisition and demolition of residential homes.”

A home will be demolished to make way for the development

In response to the concerns, the school made various amendments to original plans including ‘pulling back’ the southeastern corner of the building away from site boundaries and dropping the building height from 9.57 metres to 9.05 metres.

In its decision, the IPC said impacts on surrounding residents had been “avoided and mitigated where possible” and the facility would support the demand for increased student enrolments.”

“The commission acknowledges the community’s concern about the demolition of 37 Bancroft Ave, however on balance we consider that the demolition of the dwelling house is acceptable,” it said.

“It is also acknowledged that the development will replace ageing school infrastructure that is no longer fit for purpose.”

In approving the plans, the IPC imposed conditions on the construction and operation of the new facilities including a management plan for events that would involve consultation with Ku-ring-gai Council for gatherings of more than 100 people.

The school’s hours of operation will also be capped at 7am to 6pm for school events on weekdays and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays community use.

The school is the latest on the north shore in line for a major development including Mosman High School, Marist, Riverview and Chatswood High and Primary Schools.

EARLIER 

BY DAVID BARWELL ON MAY 20, 2020

Plans for rooftop sporting facilities and a three-storey “student wellness centre” at Roseville College have hit a roadblock from planning officials amid concerns over impacts on homes surrounding the 900-student campus.

Noise, loss of trees and the proposed height of the development are among objections Ku-ring-gai Council has raised over the $29.5 million revamp of the independent Anglican school on Bancroft Ave.

Plans by the college include the construction of a student wellness centre, three rooftop multipurpose sports courts, along with an eight-lane swimming pool, gymnasium, new classrooms and two levels of basement carparking.

A concept plans of the development

The school said the plans were designed to replace ageing infrastructure at the campus including the existing pool, built in 1973.

School Principal Deb Magill said the project would also encourage students to “embrace healthy lifestyle habits as a foundation for well-balanced, happy lives.”

“The goal is to offer our girls a contemporary learning environment for health and wellbeing, where they can develop their personal, team and leadership skills in all aspects of living well,” Ms Magill said.

A home next to the college would be demolished as part of the redevelopment.

The council has called on the Department of Planning to reject the proposal, describing the development as a “box-like structure” that was out of keeping with the heritage value of the local area.

The council has also opposed the demolition of a house at 37 Bancroft Ave, acquired by the school, that would be needed to make way for the expansion.

Similar objections have been raised by neighbours with submission centred on potential traffic impacts as well as noise and overshadowing.

“It will be an eyesore and is out of character with the local Roseville leafy suburb,” resident Ted Duong said.

A concept plan of the rooftop sporting facilities.

Submissions in favour of the proposal said the redevelopment would bring facilities at the school into the 21st century.

“We need to build schools of the future and vertical design structures makes perfect sense even if it doesn’t comply with dated planning regulations,” resident Alban Wong Yuen said.

Plans by the school stated the pool had “reached the end of its life” and was costing a “considerable amount to maintain”.

The school said measures to reduce noise impacts included “hedged landscaping” surrounding the rooftop sport courts while the new 25m swimming pool would include double glazed walls.

The proposal remains under consideration by the Department of Planning. If approved, construction is due to begin this year for completion by July 2021.

The upgrade is in line with the school’s plan to increase capacity to 1250 students by 2030.