Sydney Metro tunnelling site earmarked for new Chatswood Primary School
Tunnelling machines could be replaced by students under plans to convert a Metro “dive site” on Sydney’s north shore into a new primary school.
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A tunnelling site used to cart soil from Sydney Metro construction works has been earmarked as a solution to address overcrowding at a primary school on Sydney’s north shore.
The Department of Education has told parents it is considering acquiring the Metro dive site on the corner of the Pacific Hwy and Mowbray Rd in its latest plan to rebuild Chatswood Primary School.
The tunnelling ‘dive site’ has been used to excavate soil from the underground rail line between Chatswood and Bankstown but is due to become “available” when construction is completed in 2024.
Chatswood Primary P&C said School Infrastructure representatives informed parents at a meeting last week it was “in talks” with Sydney Metro to investigate the suitability of using the site as an education facility.
The development comes two months after the department backflipped on the $250 million Chatswood Education Precinct, which proposed to amalgamate the primary school with Chatswood High School to accommodate students between kindergarten and Year 12.
Chatswood Primary P&C president Andrea Austin the new proposal put forward by School Infrastructure would include a new school with at least 53 extra enrolments spaces.
“They’ve been mumbling about a number of sites and the dive site is one of the locations School Infrastructure say they’re now actively looking at,” she said.
“They’re talking about essentially replacing what we have while keeping the school functional until a permanent solution is found.
“Enrolment capacity will remain an issue (until a new school opens) but at least they’ve now acknowledged overcrowding is a problem.”
In a statement, the Department of Education said it was “looking at sites for a brand new school in the local area” but declined to comment on questions relating to the dive site.
In a project update released last month, the department said the primary and high schools would also be upgraded from 2021 to “deliver 150 new and refurbished learning areas.”
Documents show the proposed upgrades at the primary school include new general learning areas, a library and a hall in buildings up to seven storeys tall. The department said the upgrade would be constructed in stages to minimise disruption to students and staff.
Ms Austin said existing capacity constraints at the school had resulted in staged recess and lunch breaks, while school assemblies are split in to four sessions due to size limits on the school hall.
Lack of playing space at the school has also resulted in a 1km “blue line” circling parts of the school which teachers encourage students to run around to ensure they have adequate exercise.
A Sydney Metro spokesman said one-third of the dive site would be retained by Sydney Metro for “future use during the operation of the line” from 2024.
“Following this, the State Government will consult with Willoughby Council to plan the land’s future use,” the spokesman said.
The P&C said student enrolments at the primary school have increased by more than 50 per cent to 1318 students since 2012.
Planned upgrades at the school would only cater for 1200 students.
Ms Austin said other sites earmarked by School Infrastructure for a new school include a vacant commercial building currently listed for lease at 688 Pacific Hwy, Chatswood.