Sienna College Camberwell: VCAT rejects ‘inappropriate’ expansion plans at Catholic school

A Catholic girls’ schools expansion plans have been rejected by VCAT for being “inappropriate and excessive.”

A Catholic girls’ school has had its expansion plans thwarted by heritage concerns and the rights of neighbouring residents.

Siena College’s four-stage plan to redevelop its Riversdale Rd site, including the construction of two new 13m and 14m high buildings, has been rejected by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

It had already been rejected by the Boroondara Council and reworked plans were submitted to VCAT by the school.

The plan is a crucial aspect of the school’s push to increase in size from 780 to 950 students and 118 full time staff.

Camberwell private school Siena College has had its redevelopment plans thwarted by VCAT. Picture: Alex Coppel.

VCAT has recently considered a number of other development applications from private schools, frequently overturning council rejections.

These include permitting the development of a seven-title site on Malvern Rd, allowing Korowa Anglican Girls’ School to build a primary campus despite strong local opposition.

Other schools battling in VCAT over operating hours, carparking and planning include Brighton Grammar, Lighthouse Christian College and Scotch College.

VCAT member Peter Gaschk concluded the resubmitted Siena plans did not go far enough to minimise the impact on the side street next to the school, Compton St and the historic convent buildings.

He said the proposed flagship 13m building, known as the Veritas Centre, was “inappropriate and excessive” and will undermine the heritage significance of these properties.

VCAT approved Korowa Anglican Girls school to build its primary campus, despite strong local opposition.

“I consider the three-storey form will still result in significant visual and amenity impacts, particularly towards the rear of the dwelling at 10 Compton Street,” he said.

The proposal also includes a new 14m high gymnasium with basement carpark and two outdoor sports courts. This required the removal of two historic Bhutan Cypress trees planted in 1940 to allow car park access.

Member Gaschk said the height and location of the gymnasium will dominate the existing heritage convent buildings and was an “unacceptable heritage outcome”.

The plan also included a three-storey building for cafeteria, staff facilities and learning spaces which he found satisfactory.

Although Member Gaschk said there were some positive outcomes in the plan, many aspects were unacceptable and so he did not allow the resubmitted development plan.

Over time the right of residents to object to private school campus redevelopments have been reduced, with the state planning Minister given the right to fast-track plans bogged down in VCAT.

A spokeswoman for Siena College said the decision was disappointing but the leadership team “will be working hard on a revision of our current planswhich will meet with approval so that the Veritas Centre can be delivered”.

She said Siena was a “forward looking school and have contingencies in place to ensure all current and future students have access to an optimal learning facility”.