Macquarie Park: New plans revealed for 750-space primary school at key site
Development plans have been released to build a new vertical school in Sydney’s north, with features including outdoor play areas. See what’s planned.
Northern District Times
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Development plans have been released to build a new vertical school in Sydney’s north to keep up with a population growth driven by a major public housing redevelopment.
A 750-space primary school is set to be built within a new development precinct at Macquarie Park under plans released by the Department of Education.
The school will cater for students from kindergarten to Year 6 and will become one of the largest primary school campuses in the Ryde local government area.
Early plans show the $53m development will be built across six storeys and include general learning spaces, administration areas and common rooms for students.
The vertical campus would have outdoor play areas on each level of the building – along with an outdoor play area on the building’s roof.
A multipurpose hall, library, carparking and staff facilities are also proposed as part of the development.
The new school forms part of $1.76bn redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Estate, recognised as one of Australia’s largest social housing renewal projects.
The Department of Planning is leading the redevelopment of the site, which over the coming years will be transformed into the new ‘new mixed community’ called Midtown Mac Park.
The first stage of the mammoth project has already commenced and once completed will have around 3300 new homes including 954 social housing units, 130 affordable rental units and more than 2000 privately owned units.
Without a new school, the redevelopment would strain the limited number of existing nearby schools including Kent Road Public School which has an enrolment capacity of 840 pupils.
Ryde Council has provided early feedback on the school, raising concerns over the removal of trees on the site.
Early plans for the school have been lodged with the Department of Planning, with detailed plans expected to be released later this year.
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