By Brendan Rees
Casey Council has approved plans for a state primary school in Narre Warren North despite attracting 183 objections.
Residents expressed concerns of increased traffic, location of a school within the green wedge zone and Casey Foothills, tree removal and impact on flora and fauna, noise, as well as wastewater and flooding at the 434-442 Belgrave-Hallam Road site.
Under the plans the Prep to Year 6 school would cater for 160 students, 16 staff members, and feature five classroom pods, a multi-purpose hall with attached chapel, overed piazza, administration building containing offices, toilets, and a gatehouse.
Also proposed is a maker’s workshop, a multi-purpose court, waste storage area, rainwater tanks, effluent field, and a bus shelter and car park.
Casey council administrators voted unanimously to issue a notice of decision to grant a permit at their 6 October meeting.
Casey Council chair of administrators Noelene Duff said that she had read all objections and “appreciate that residents have raised concerns around a number of matters”.
But added: “I think the recommendations … are detailed and extensive and they do aim to address the range and variety of objections.”
In granting the permit, administrator Cameron Boardman council had imposed 53 conditions on the planning permit.
“Those conditions relate to aspects of the masterplan development, around state development plans, and ensuring that there is approvals at each stage of the development; that the layout is not altered, there is consideration to noise controls to general amenity; there are aspects to improve security, building works,” he said.
Mr Boardman added council had placed a prohibition on the plans that facilities incorporated as part of the masterplan or any other development at the site must be used exclusively and “are not available for any external public use without the prior written consent of the responsible authority including ourselves”.
