State Education bosses want to buy part of memorial park for Manly Vale Public plan — but council says no

WARRINGAH  Council wants to rebuff a plan by state bosses to grab bushland in a memorial park as part of a school expansion, but compulsory acquisition rules mean it’ll likely fail.

Manly Vale Public School is soon to lodge development plans to build a new school.

WARRINGAH  Council wants to rebuff a plan by state bosses to grab bushland in a memorial park as part of a school expansion.

Manly Vale Public School is set to be almost doubled in size as part of a controversial plan to build on bushland — a plan parents say is needed desperately.

As reported in the Manly Daily, the $23 million plan is opposed by five council units, but no final decision has been made.

More than 100 public submissions have also been made, many against it but some in support.

Council staff want councillors to reject the offer at Tuesday’s council meeting, to protect wildlife and bush.

Now, Warringah Council bosses have recommended councillors vote to ­refuse the State Education Department’s request to buy a site 1½ times the size of a rugby field in neighbouring Manly Warringah War Memorial Park for $288,000.

It’s needed as protection from bushfires, and parts will be cleared.

But council staff want councillors to reject the offer at Tuesday’s council meeting, to protect wildlife and the environment.

However, the NSW state can take the land anyway under acquisition rules.

Warringah Council’s traffic engineering and landscapes officers, parks, reserves and foreshores officers and natural environment units have all slammed the plan.

The council report, says: “Given the previous recommendation that the ­development be deemed for refusal based on biodiversity and other impacts, and given the fact that the subject parcels of land are either in the Manly Warringah War Memorial Park or ­adjacent, it is recommended not to agree to the compulsory acquisition.”

Warringah Council’s traffic engineering and landscapes officers, parks, reserves and foreshores officers and natural environment units have all slammed the plan.

A Department of Education spokesman, said: “The proposed redevelopment is continuing to follow the Warringah Council’s DA process.

“The compulsory acquisition by agreement method was a pathway recommended to the Department of Education by council at a meeting between council and senior departmental officers in late 2015.”