Mastery Schools Australia applies for development approval for new campus in Nerang
A Gold Coast school has applied for planning approval to move to a new premises almost 20km away from its existing campus. FULL DETAILS
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A SCHOOL dedicated to helping children struggling with mainstream education is being forced to move to a new premises almost 20km away to make way for a supermarket and a bottle shop.
Mastery Schools Australia has applied for development approval to operate classes from the Prana Centre on the Southport Nerang Rd in Nerang.
Planing documents show the ground floor of the building, which is located close to Nerang State School, would be reconfigured to accommodate up to 200 Year 4 to Year 10 students.
Other tenants of the building would not be affected.
“The proposed development reflects an emerging trend in boutique school design within established built up areas,” the application states.
“The concept is already being used by this school within two other sites where the school is located within a commercial building (campuses at Varsity Lakes and Springfield Centre).
“These campuses show that the design can successfully function within a level of an existing building, with other uses occupying other levels of the building.”
Part of the car parking at the site would be redesigned to create a set-down and pick-up zone, but the proposal says the number of spaces would be increased from 218 to 226, while 40 secure bicycle parking spaces would also be provided.
The proposed new facility is almost 20km from the school’s existing campus at Varsity Lakes, which occupies part of a building due to be demolished to make way for a new Coles outlet and a Liquorland bottle shop.
“It is noted that this proposal facilitates the relocation of the Varsity Lakes campus following that site’s recent approval for a supermarket,” the planning application states.
Council’s planning committee earlier this month approved the supermarket development despite trenchant opposition from concerned locals.
Mastery Schools Australia was co-founded in 2020 by Toni Hatten-Roberts and ex-Arcadia College and Broadbeach State School boss Michael Roberts. It welcomed its first students at the start of the 2021 school year.
Mr Roberts in 2020 told the Bulletin the not-for-profit operation catered to students who have disengaged due to learning difficulties or academic stress.
“Our aim is a targeted approach to teaching the kids the basics very early on,” Mr Roberts said.
“This isn’t necessarily just for those with learning difficulties, but students who may have had a tough time with some subjects and were then unable to catch up.
“That is the whole purpose of the name, to allow students to master a concept before we move on.”
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