Richard Gill School

I have the following questions:

Is there going to be an excessive traffic increase to Eurabbie Avenue cul de sac?

Is Eurabbie Avenue being looked at as an access to the school grounds or as a drop-off point for students?

What type of fencing is envisaged and will it follow the boundaries?

What plans are in place to make the access to the dam kid safe?

What is being done to mitigate the noise caused by musical instruments within the premises?

Is it envisaged that there will be any external musical activities that could impact the neighbourhood?

Please find attached TfNSW response letter.

BCD Comments on the EIS for the Richard Gill Music School at Muswellbrook.
Regards Steve Lewer A/STL - 0459 082162

Please find attached Council's response in relation to development notice

Please see attached response.

Thank you for requesting WaterNSW's comments on the EIS for the proposed Richard Gill School (SSD 10380). Please note that as the subject site is not located in close proximity to any WaterNSW land or assets, and as an SSD any flood works or licensing approvals will be assessed by others, the risk to water quality is considered to be low and WaterNSW has no comments or particular requirements.

I object on the basis that I have concerns about the future of flora and fauna that encompasses the DP and any future extensions to the school if it is approved. We do not wish to have the peace and tranquillity that we have enjoyed for 15 years to be adversely affected now or in the future.
I object to the use of the Future Fund contributing funds to this school. I note that the council recently resolved to rent the building to the school for 5 years and that this resolution was conducted in a closed meeting. I have emailed Ms Fiona Plesman to seek copies of closed meetings held in relation to the RGSM, and a copy of the Authorised Future Fund Policy Document and any amendments. Further, I have requested the names of committee members past and present on the Future Fund Committee. Should this information not be forthcoming, it is my intention to lodge a complaint with the OLG and a GIPA. No other school in our community receives funding from the Future Fund.

My reasons for objection are as follows , in no particular order
1: in regard to the DA , it is applicable to lot 157 Maitland rd Muswellbrook, non of the reports or studies make mention of the two and half acres behind the council building , no flora /fauna studies , no mention of fencing or security , or who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep on the vacant land or make note of any future intentions or infrastructure plans . Or How the vacant land was rezoned in the first place from a reserve some years ago to residential and now to zoning that allows a school use at its peril
2: how this project is already operating from the premises , with offices and the like and how it has already had modifications made to the building . Or How the school business (Mr English ) is using council infrastructure and services as his own office . There has not been any financial reports from council showing any lease or rent agreements made public or any documents to inform the community of councils intentions , we are currently trying to gain access to these
3: councils miss use of local rate payers funds to financially back a new school with out any DA , plan or other means of income , council has allocated and promised funds to a business prior to any offical go ahead or Da approval ,
4: the traffic study for the school openly states that the nearest public bus stop is a few hundred meters away . And being located on a major highway is a huge safety concern , needing a major rezoning exercise with appropriate signage , at the moment it’s in a 60 zone , there is no physical way of getting any local school buses off the hwy into the car park , and there is no bus parking areas out on the highway , we already have issues with Muswellbrook south public school located on the same stretch of road , within in a 50 zone , with a school zone in place , the reports make no mention of any bus or traffic safety concerns , the extra traffic movements don’t account for the drop off and pick up by parents or guardians
5: Conflict of interest by Coucillor Jason Foy ,who obviously sits on council , is the head of arts and music at the local public high school , sits on the board of the Richard Gill school of music and is also a near by resident of the school at the proposed location , and also holds the the title of councils spokesperson for the arts . To say he was not influenced or swayed needs to be investigated throughly
6: the lack of consultation by the council to its residents regarding funding , usage and suitability , the only notification given to residents was by a letter box drop from the school itself with very little information , and seeing that there are a lot of elderly residents without IT or legal knowledge has lead them to put any submission into the the to hard basket
I hope for the sake of the community and it’s financial stability we look at how this deal came to be , the idea of the school has credit and should be explored but councils involvement needs to be addressed and rectified swiftly ..
Thanks Luke Anderson

My submission objecting to the project is attached (please remove my name from the filename on your system, as this identifies me and it is supposed to be anonymous!).

I’m am writing a comment in regards to the new school development. I am concerned with the flow of traffic congestion we will have as this street becomes very busy as cars think it leads out to the highway. It has been a bit quieter at the moment as this is due to COVID crisis. I am also concerned in what impact the school is going to have on the flora fauna and wildlife we have on this reserve and also what plan is in place for the dam with small children attending the school. Also I have a question in regards to the water flow to the dam. I have seen in torrential rain in the past years the water come up through the drain down to the dam overflow as it could not hold the water capacity. How is this water going to be diverted as this is a worry to most residents living near.

The project will be invaluable to an area of Muswellbrook that has a large family population but no close education facilities.
It will also provide a non-denominational private school alternative for parents looking for more than public schooling.