Moriah College: Decision made on school’s $81m redevelopment

It is one of the largest proposed school redevelopments of its kind in the state. Now, following nearly 200 objections from locals a decision on its future has finally been made.

Massive multimillion plans which will transform one of the eastern suburbs’ most prestigious private schools has been approved by the state government’s Independent Planning Commission.

About 18 months after it was first flagged, Jewish Orthodox school Moriah College in Queens Park now has permission to embark on a huge $81 million makeover.

Once described in their own plans as “inefficient and outdated” the school is planning an ambitious redevelopment of its campus in what is believed to be one of the biggest overhauls of a school in NSW history.

What the school will look like when the project is completed.

As part of the approval the school is aiming to increase the number of students on campus by 290 over the next 15 years.

In total a whopping 180 nearby neighbours objected to the plans going ahead as well as Waverley Council.

The council’s main concern was the increase of traffic in the area.

The proposal also flags moving the main entrance away from homes in Queens Park where locals have lamented the traffic choking up the affluent suburb.

Before … Picture: Sam Ruttyn

… and after.

The Independent Planning Commission approved the plans last week after 18 months of weighing up whether it could go ahead as “state significant development”.

Moriah College has been contacted for comment.

At the centre of the plans is a mammoth $62.7 million building the schools says will provide state of the art science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics facilities.

The three and four storey buildings will replace an ageing 25-year-old building and include a 250 seat auditorium, cafe, a library and high-tech classrooms that will house laser cutters and 3D printers.

On top of that, Moriah is splashing $18.9 million on a three storey early learning centre.

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