New High School in Bungendore

Submission on Bungendore High School Project (Application No SSD-14394209)

While I am supportive of a high school for Bungendore, I object to the proposed site.
Local residents’ protests have become increasingly strident. These are no ‘nimby’ complaints. The siting decision is poorly thought out.

Why must this new public amenity come at the cost of another?

Approval of this site will result in:
Reduced public space (not good in terms of future population growth)
Cumbersome traffic arrangements
Excessive congestion of existing public facilities

Community-preferred, suitable, alternative sites have been wrongly rejected.
These must be urgently reviewed.

The development of a high school at this site will have a significant impact on the streetscape of the town and the use of our town spaces, as well as negatively impacting the current primary school and providing a substandard high school.

Firstly, the proposed high school is not in line with the heritage feel of the town, and will destroy the historical grid-system of the town. The proposed placement will impact the placement of our town swimming pool, which is currently walking distance from the primary school and the majority of residential areas in town. It will limit the capacity for the community to use the town oval during school hours, which is likely to become a school asset rather than a town feature open to all. Additionally, if the oval is utilized by school students throughout the day, it will not have recovery time to facilitate use for current weekend/week night sports. Already, the council struggles to maintain the oval to a safe quality. The town playground, exercise equipment, and war memorial are all adjacent to the proposed school grounds , and it will be challenging to ensure these remain accessible to the entire community throughout the day, while maintaining safe and peaceful connection to these important spaces.

The department has indicated that the proposed high school will be required to share some facilities with the primary school (such as the school oval and library). This limits the options for use by the primary school. It is not appropriate to have shared play spaces across such diverse age groups, and if the primary oval is only used during class times, it limits the primary classes from outdoor learning breaks, as currently occurs in many classrooms.

The proposed high school has very limited outdoor space. The proposal to have no school oval for break times severely limits the opportunities for high school students to maintain their fitness and activity levels through the day. In a town where nearly every child plays at least one code of football, it seems ludicrous that our adolescents will not have an oval to kick a ball on at lunchtimes. The compact nature of the school limits opportunities for specialised learning spaces, such as specialised science equipment, performance theatres, music practice rooms, sports facilities, which could grow with the area’s needs and interests. There is very limited space for growth, despite the growing population of the town and primary school. A densely packed, hastily constructed school, with limited outdoor space will not provide a quality learning environment for the young people of Bungendore and surrounds.

What’s more, the town has just been notified that the area adjacent and incorporating the proposed site is contaminated with lead. We were just advised that the levels exceed safe levels for an industrial site, which far exceeds the safe level for a school site, and that the testing process will be undertaken over the coming weeks and months. Considering this site for significant earthworks seems dangerous, especially considering it’s proximity to the primary school.

Of greater concern is the contamination plume risk to the primary school and contemporary/historical risks to current and former students. I understand the department may consider contamination issues at the primary school to be out of scope for the high school, but I argue that it must be considered as impacting the educational precinct as a whole. As it likely to be many months before the testing process has been completed, this adds further uncertainty to whether a high school will be ready by the beginning of 2023, as promised. As the parent of a child beginning high school in 2023, this makes planning our future incredibly difficult. It appears that moving the proposed high school to a more appropriate site, away from contaminated areas, would provide certainty to the community, a higher quality school environment, and leave the community resources with the community.

I fully support and endorse the location and the time frame proposed to establish this project. I have school aged children and do not wish to have to move else where for them to continue their schooling.

The location selected will give great service and support to the surrounding pre and primary schools and also allow for parents to facilitate drop off without have to travel to several locations.

Keep up the great works

Trevor Wilson

I would like to take this opportunity to express my objection to the project. Having lived in Bungendore for over 5 years I have seen how important Bungendore Park and the surrounding areas are to the community. The park is regularly used by families for recreational activities and by older children whose younger siblings are using the nearby playground. The loss of the community centre will also be a huge loss to the town, with this facility being well utilised by various groups. I am in support of a high school in Bungendore, but not in the proposed location. The proposed location is not large enough to house a high school for the amount of students who would be attending now, let alone provide room for expansion. The proposed location requires closure of a main thoroughfare road and diverts traffic onto nearby residential streets. The proposed location does not have sufficient parking for both staff and students. Bungendore is surrounded by open land and there are more suitable locations available for the school which will not take one of the few green spaces Bungendore residents have, away from them. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed High School for Bungendore.

As a long-term resident of Bungendore, and a parent to two children that will benefit from the High School, I would like to express my full support for the proposed project.

I appreciate the consideration that has been given to addressing key concerns raised by the community, most notably:

- Traffic management due to the closure of Majara Street. I am satisfied that the proposed measures will assist with minimising traffic impacts to an acceptable level. In particular, I believe the addition of a roundabout at the intersection of Majara and Gibraltar Streets will be a significant improvement regardless of whether the road is closed or not. The relocation of bus zones and kiss-and-drop areas will also be an improvement. My only concern is adequate parking, and whether perhaps formal delineation of parking bays in the train station dirt carpark might be beneficial to add increased capacity.

- Pedestrian access during the construction. I note and appreciate the consideration that has been given to allowing safe passage of pedestrian traffic coming from the Elmslea/North-Bungendore area, particularly during the construction phase, as the existing pathways are used extensively.

- Upgraded community facilities. I note and appreciate the assurance that the existing Community Centre will still be available until such time as the new facility is functional. This alleviates a major concern for many local community groups that utilise this space.

Thank you again, and I look forward to seeing the project progress!

My wife and I totally object to the proposal to subdivide and develop Bungendore Park. This is a major open space in the heart of Bungendore and the idea of destroying/renovating existing facilities to construct a high school which is already recognised as being too small and will soon have inadequate capacity is foolish and a waste of taxpayers funds. The previous proposal to built a high school slightly out of Bungendore at “Ashby” on Tarago Road should be reactivated.

I object to the location of the proposed new High School in Bungendore as its location spoils the community feel that the existing sports oval provides. I also object due to concerns regarding increased traffic in the streets surrounding the proposed location of the school.

I strongly object to application SSD-14394209, the proposed Bungendore High School. Bungendore certainly needs a High School, but the per-fabricated one, proposed to be established on Crown Land (dedicated for public use and recreation) that is far too small for any future development, in the heart of the Village, is not being placed in a favorable location. The current proposed school, will be far too small to offer varied educational choices for the students. There just will not be enough students to offer a variety of subjects. The proposed development site is 2.9 hectares - much smaller than the NSW State Government's standard for new high schools requiring a minimum site size of 4 hectares. I am concerned that once it is realised the school is too small, more land will be taken from the village residents - that land being the oval and surrounds currently designated Crown Land.
The proposed site impinges, indeed takes over, the centre of the Village - our only green space used by many local sporting teams. How will this tiny space be able to be used by the school during school hours, and external sporting events after school hours - Mick Sherd Oval will become an unusable quagmire.
Not to mention the loss of the town swimming pool - built years ago from community subscriptions. Yes it may be small, but its all we've got - how many summers will we have to wait till the new pool is operational?
Traffic flow is another concern. Already the roads around the primary school are choked during school hours - add a High School into the mix, with older students driving their own cars, and the traffic will just become more congested. I am also concerned at the thought of newly licenced drivers driving in an are frequented by infants school children - surely an accident waiting to happen.
The proposed site lies at the heart of Bungendore's heritage precinct. Surrounding the site are the historic Railway Station and Station Master's house, Primary School, School of Arts, Police Station and Court House and two churches. Will the War Memorial eventually be swallowed up by the school grounds? To plant a High School consisting of pre-fabricated two storey buildings in the middle of our green, historic precinct , smacks of, at the very least, a lack of community consultation. Of course we need a High School - just not on the proposed site.
And now we have been made aware of a lead contamination around the Bungendore Railway Station. It would be unconscionable to continue building on a site to be frequented by young people.
How many long established trees will be taken down to build the new school? As previously stated, the proposed area is the only remaining green space in Bungendore. It is a pleasant well used recreational area encompassing the oval, pool, playground, tennis courts, the Rotunda and many trees. This, to be replaced by inefficient, poorly thought out, two storey pre-fabricated buildings too small for current student requirements, let alone future requirements. I thought Queanbeyan-Palerang had a plan for Bungendore with projected populations. Where will those High School students be educated?
Please have a look at the information available for the Proposed new High School at Jerrabomberra. To quote the NSW Government "The design of the new high school anticipates the need for possible future expansion with core facilities sized to facilitate expansion if necessary. The new high school in Jerrabomberra will be a 7-12 comprehensive high school.
Our high schools provide students from Years 7 to 12 with a quality education in a broad range of subjects. Our high schools have access to technologies to support the implementation of the NSW Curriculum requirements. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are essential areas of study that foster students’ skills and prepare them to participate in a rapidly changing world and contribute to Australia’s future development and prosperity." Could this promise of a quality education also be extended to the children of Bungendore? Or will we be forced to accept a second rate High School, built to the detriment of the Village?
We all want a new High School - but we want one built to the highest of expectations, one that will educate our children into the future for decades to come and offer them the education they deserve. Not one built indiscriminately, and without community consultation, tearing out the heart of our historic village.
I have no affiliation with any political party, Local, State or Federal, nor have I ever made a political donation.

- The selected location is completely inappropriate for many reasons:
- It would destroy the park lands, sporting area , swimming pool, traffic flow and spoil the historic nature of that area used by Bungendore residents. There are many more areas that would be much more appropriate

I support the proposed high school in Bungendore. My kids went to ACT secondary schools and if I had a choice I would have sent them to a high school in Bungendore. I also support the school because the project incorporates a new swimming pool at the Bungendore sports hub to compensate for the removal of the old pool and that appropriate traffic management measures will be undertaken to mitigate any traffic impacts.

The ACT has also placed limitations on NSW kids accessing schools in the ACT. The high school will create an incentive for parents with kids of high school age to stay in Bungendore rather than move to the ACT to be closer to schools.

I do not have an issue with the high schools location provided the community still has access to Mick Sherd Oval and the indoor basketball courts at the primary school for community sport.

I strongly believe the Department of Education and The NSW Government should go back to the drawing board and find a site that will keep Bungendore Park, the heart of Bungendore.
The Heart of Bungendore at this time is made up of all things surrounding this park, this includes the Swimming Pool, the Tennis courts, the childrens playground, the cricket nets, exercise equipment, the public toilets and of course the Post Office and Primary School.
I believe the Department of Education should build a High School elsewhere in Bungendore that will also allow it to have abundant green spaces.
Once the recreational heart of our town is gone , the character of the town will be changed for ever.
I object the possible damage to the heritage area, which includes the two churches, the police station , schools of arts, and the Post Office.
Also i am objecting to the future traffic congestion in the area, that will come with this developement.
There will also be a lack of parking and no room for expansion of the High School.
I object to the Bungendore Swimming Pool being relocated, a this time it is central for the children, a safe close walk after school for the children to access it for casual swimming or the Swimming Club.
I object also because the impact on the Bungendore Green Canopy will be profound with the removal of many old large trees.
Thankyou
Rhonda-Jane Foulds

Whilst I am in favour of a high school in Bungendore, I strongly object to its proposed current location. I strongly object to the Bungendore Park being taken over, and cannot understand the late shift to this totally inadequate site. The site is too small, the traffic consequences have not been thought through and the town loses its central, well used and well loved park.
I understand that planning had already started for my preferred site, (Ashby) on the outskirts of Bungendore before this was changed at the last minute to Bungendore Park. The Ashby site ticks all the boxes for me. There’s plenty of room for expansion, and traffic flow would be easily managed without disrupting the centre of town. And, we get to keep our much loved park for the community.
Please do not allow the high school to proceed on Bungendore Park and revert to the Ashby site.

The development of a high school in Bungendore is laudable
However, I object to the current proposed siting of the school in the Bungendore Park precinct.

The park is one of the few green spaces in our village and is used by many individuals and groups. The park also has great historic significance and was gazetted in the 1800s.
I support the selection of “Ashby” on the Tarago road as a school site - it is close to the township, has plenty of room for any future expansion, and has the additional benefit of having room to establish a first class Agriculture department.
I believe that land developers have also offered sound alternative sites for the school - there ARE other sites to pick from!
The Bungendore Park site removes the park from the general population, provides potential road disruptions ( which don’t really seem to have been addressed by consultation with the townspeople) which above causing inconvenience could prove dangerous to the other facilities in that area and appears to lack any potential to grow as it is a small confined area.
This project is poorly thought out and fails to heed the needs of the community

I firmly oppose to the project of a new High School at the current proposed location in Bungendore.
1. The school will cause traffic congestion as the closure of Majara Street will leave residents and all bus routes to only have the option of accessing Elmslea via Tarago Road
1.The one main park, that funds have been put into, to provide recreational activities for the children and visitors, will be demolished.
3. The off dog leash area won't exist. Numerous residents access this on a regular basis.
4. The Community raised the funds to provide a pool for young and the elderly; this also will be demolished. This is the only pool within approx. 25km radius. This not only provides recreational use, it allows residents to access a service for exercise/mental health wellbeing at a low cost and within a convenient location.
5. Has there been thought or consideration into the Bungendore Park, as the war memorial is a historic piece since 1884, as well as the surroundings trees, descended from Gallipoli.
6. There is no recognition of the work and funds raised for the Community Centre and the towns Library - will these also be sited elsewhere? More buildings that will cost the Community.
7. The NSW Department of Education highly recommends a minimum of 4 hectares for a highschool, is this high school (at 2.5 hectares) providing for only a percentage of children ? Providing a school smaller than what is recommended, would this not have a negative impact on the education of the children attending? Bungendore is consistently expanding, there is no room for growth where the high school is built on the grounds currently proposed.
8. Hisotric buildings will be detroyed, this may have a negative impact on Bungendores tourists/visitors, resulting in loss of finance for local businesses who may not be able to continue to operate.
9. Being built directly across from the railway line, not only will this cause distraction/noise during school hours, this imposes a safety risk to children, being so close.
10. Why hasn't the community been consulted? The community/residents haven't a fair input into this proposal.

I strenuously object to the location that has been chosen for the construction of the proposed Bungendore High School. The nominated location is our town park which is surrounded by historically significant buildings that are of utmost importance to the heritage of Bungendore. Our park was dedicated to the town in the 1880's and has been central for the enjoyment and well being for the local community since then. There are also community buildings such as our community centre, recently built council chambers and our town's swimming pool (which the community tirelessly raised money for, and locals contributed their time and materials for the construction)
This part of our town will be destroyed for ever, by the construction of the high school. Several two story concrete buildings will certainly NOT blend into the surrounding area and contrary to the opinion of the Department of Education the trees that are left on our park after over 70 have been removed will NOT hide the buildings from view of the community.
It is incomprehensible that the Department of Education could consider stealing a town's only park to build a high school, especially as this was not the sight that was originally confirmed by the Planning Department. The property at Ashby had been approved, was within the required distance and is a clear site with ample room for expansion when required. Under questionable circumstances our town park suddenly became the site of choice with no explanation of why the change. It is hard to believe that due process has been followed here. To take our town park and construct a high school that, in a few years will have to be extended is wrong on so many levels.
I ask that the Planning Department and the Department of Education reject this site as unsuitable and go back to the site at Ashby which would have more room for the increase in the number of students in the coming years.
Please do not destroy the heart of our town.

I object to many things about this proposal to build a High School on this site.
The site is to small for such a project at only 3 hectares in size. There is no possible area available for expansion in the future.
The multi- storey design of this building is not appropriate for the area being an Historically significant part of Bungendore, with the original post office and police station, also included in this area is the War Memorial Cenotaph.
I object also to the total lack of public consultation, and public consultation in all such planning processes should be mandatory.
The public consultation was restricted to school design and failed to include discussion on the location.
I also object to the Bungendore Swimming Pool being closed then no funds available to build a new one.
The Swimming Pool is perfectly situated for the whole town where it is, it is close to school and central to all towns people.
There will be traffic chaos with the new proposed High School and insufficient parking.

I have lived in the region for the past 50 years and seen the gradual development of the village and surrounds, and it is from this perspective that I I offer my comments and objections. I do not object to a to a High School for Bungendore as such, far from it, there is a definite need, only to the site that has been selected which seems to have been railroaded for political gain only, not in the interests of the prospective students, their families, teaching staff and the general Bungendore community.
The following are my main objections and are in point form for brevity.
The proposed area is already fully used for village community (and visitor) amenities which will be restricted, with some being demolished and others having to be relocated.
The road infrastructure will be inadequate for the school requirements and will be detrimental to the existing facilities (residential, thoroughfare, number of vehicle movements, parking, village access).
The area is bordered by lead contamination along the existing rail line and surrounds (not a good look for our children to be exposed to).
There is no area for future expansion or long term developments, except to encroach further onto the Mick Sherd Oval (short sighted development).
Parking, drop off and pick up will be inadequate. You only have to look at the current problems associated with this aspect for the existing Primary School during term time to see the impact a High School catering for an extra 450 students in the area will have.
Other items of note that will be detrimentally affected are;
A large proportion of the area will be fenced off (this is a village and currently maintains a village atmosphere, not some high rise inner city complex),
Access to the oval will be restricted,
Heritage areas will be affected,
Part of the existing village ambience will be destroyed,
Environmental issues will be affected, including open areas and walking access.
I believe that there are other areas on the outskirts of Bungendore that would serve as better alternatives for a High School that would better compliment the village concept and blend in with the gradual expansion of Bungendore which will inevitably happen. There is no need to dump this project in the centre of the village so that it can be completed quickly for political gain and in the process, destroying what a lot of people move to Bungendore for, a more relaxed country styled village living eexperience.

Malcolm and Gillian Warwick
Street Address Withheld
Bungendore NSW 2621


11 October 2021


Director - Social and Infrastructure Assessments
Planning and Assessment
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124


Dear Sir or Madam

NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN BUNGENDORE
APPLICATION NO. SSD-14394209

I refer to the above state-significant development application.

I object to the proposal, for the following reason(s):

Bungendore Park and the adjoining Common across Turallo Terrace, is Crown Land that is dedicated for public use and recreation and therefore is for all of the community to use.

As an older member of the community we make use of the facilities in and around the oval and Common during the working week and during the day time, i.e. between 9am and 5pm. We feel that taking over the oval for use by any building is detrimental to village residents and the idea that it can only be used after school hours is of no use to the older community. As the older community grows with the building of an over 55 village and other housing developments you are taking away the heart of the village and the draw to the village of that age group.

As these facilities were the result of community fundraising initiatives and efforts how are you going to repay the community and with what facilities in the heart of the village that can be used by all age groups and not just High school children?


Yours faithfully,

Malcolm and Gillian Warwick

Thankyou for this opportunity to voice an objection to the construction of a school within the park in the centre of Bungendore and into the Commons. I visit Bungendore frequently to stay with friends and we often walk around the historical heart of the town and through the park.
I support a new High school as I have witnessed the growth of Bungendore but I was dismayed to learn that the current plan will cause the loss of the local pool, the Community Centre and Library and a big chunk of the park and Commons.
I have often enjoyed a swim at the pool and have been impressed at the community spirit there.

Bungendore has always impressed me as an historic town with obviously increasing tourism. Please re-consider the current plan and so don't destroy what is unique and special as the town continues to grow.

Yours Sincerely,
Don Vogt

Bungendore High School Proposal - OBJECTION

I believe that the the Bungendore High School project is probably the most ridiculous, ill conceived and badly planned project I have come across in my time in Bungendore, and I have seen a few! I do not object to the fact that we need a high school in Bungendore, but the suggestion to build it on the Mick Sherd oval beggars belief.
Public consultation for this project was, I believe, intentionally kept to a bare minimum so that a lot of the obvious problems with the suggestion would not be addressed. Not the first time public opinion in Bungendore has been totally ignored by this council.
The excuses given to eliminate other potential sites for the school were at best pathetic and poorly researched, especially for the most obvious site in most residents opinion at the Ashby Property on Tarago Road.
The site of Mick Sherd oval is a heritage site given to the people of Bungendore many years ago. It is an important and beautiful part of our town and in the majority of people here’s opinion, is not expedient to the whims of the Education Department.
I would also like to know what happens when, and this is Palerang councils projections not mine, the population of Bungendore grows significantly and the school needs expanding. Because on the proposed site there would be nowhere else to go unless the oval is totally destroyed.
It looks to me and many others in Bungendore that the NSW Education Department has bypassed its own guidelines for building schools to try and achieve this preposterous plan, possibly before the next state elections?
For goodness sake, ditch this ridiculous plan as soon as possible and find a plan ‘B’ which makes common sense.