Malek Fahd Islamic School Expansion

An increase in education infrastructure to cater to the growing community in the hills district is a good idea

Need more info please

This project is highly recommended

We had to wait for 1 year to find a spot to enroll my 3 children in the school, it is essential to expand the school , as I can see more muslim are coming to live in the hills shire specially in the north west

There is a significant deficiency in the Islamic schooling sector in the hills region.
Only 2 schools are currently available, have limited capacity, and long waiting lists.
The Muslim population in the hills region has more than doubled over the last few years and Islamic education is extremely important to the welfare of Muslims and their families.
I strongly support the above project.

I support the project with no comments.

1. Living style and quality impact: The new buildings are going to be built too closed to the residential house located at Honeyeater Cre Beaumont Hills and Rebellion Cct Beaumont Hills. It is acceptable if the school buildings are far enough against the fence of the house. However, we can see in the planned expansion draft there are full blocks of multi-stories new buildings in line with the properties mentioned on above streets. It means all the view at the back of each house will be definitely blocked. People moved in these areas to enjoy the relaxed living style of Beaumont Hills. The expansion will totally erase the right that was supposed belongs to the local people. For example, people can see the beautiful sky at the back or their house at the moment. But if all new school buildings are completed as planned, they can only see the buildings rather than the sky view, especially for those residents whose house is single story only.

2. Traffic and Parking Concerns: The expansion could lead to increased traffic congestion and parking issues in the surrounding residential areas, especially during peak school hours. As a local resident, it was already very frustrating every time when we are driving out during school time. There were not many alternative routines to choose in these areas. Increase traffic jam condition will definitely waste a lot of time for the local people.

3. Environmental Impact: The project involves the removal of 133 trees, which could negatively affect the local environment and biodiversity. One of the most important elements in the hills shore is the green environments that making the Hills Council areas attractive. Reduction of trees, grass and other natural environments will definitely making bad reputation to the Hills areas.

4. Noise and Disruption: Construction activities and the increased number of students and staff could lead to higher noise levels and disruption for nearby residents. This is also making significant bad impact to the people who leave close or next to the school.
Noice issue will disrupt daily activities of local people, causing psychological stress and lead to long term health issues.

5. Community Impact: The significant increase in the student population and staff might alter the character of the neighborhood and put additional strain on local resources and infrastructure. As we can see the local infrastructure is not enough to support the day by day increase level of population. We do Not want to see this kind of stress increase more.

6. Sustainability Concerns: While the project aims for a 4-star Green Star rating, there might be concerns about whether the sustainability initiatives are sufficient to offset the environmental impact. More people bring more pollution, especially in the way of air pollution and sound pollution.

7. Property Values: The expansion could potentially affect property values in the area. The Properties especially those are closed to the school area, will definitely drop because of the expansion. The most obvious impacts are noisy impacts and blocking views of house right behind the school.

I am writing to express my enthusiastic support for the proposed extension of Malek Fahd Beaumont Hills School, a place that holds a special significance for my family as my children are currently enrolled there.

The school has provided an excellent educational foundation for my children, fostering not only academic success but also the development of their personal and social skills. The proposed extension is crucial to accommodate more students and enhance educational facilities, ensuring that every child receives the high-quality education they deserve.

As a parent and active member of the school community, I have first-hand experience of the positive impact Malek Fahd has on its students. The expansion will allow the school to continue its mission by offering more spaces for prospective students and upgrading its facilities to better serve its educational goals.

Moreover, the project promises to bring economic benefits to our community by creating jobs and stimulating local businesses. This development is not just an expansion of physical structures but an investment in our children’s future and the overall growth of our community.

I wholeheartedly support this initiative and urge the planning department to approve the proposed extension. Our community will greatly benefit from the enhanced educational opportunities this project will provide.

Thank you for considering this heartfelt submission. I am optimistic about the prospects this extension holds for our community’s educational landscape.

Yours sincerely,

Zuhra Popal

Objection to the Proposed School Development – Malek Fahd Islamic School Expansion (SSD-56264716)

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the above proposal. I accept the departments disclaimer and declaration.

1. Traffic Impact and Road Capacity:

The proposed development will place an overwhelming strain on the local infrastructure. The area is low density residential and the streets surrounding the site are narrow two-lane roads with single lane roundabouts, which are not capable of handling the expected increase in vehicular traffic, especially during school drop-off and pick-up times.
Congestion Concerns: Traffic will back up to the roundabouts, creating delays and potential bottlenecks, especially during peak hours. This could lead to dangerous situations for pedestrians, particularly students walking to and from school.
Lack of Road Upgrades: There are no provisions in the development plan to upgrade the surrounding roads or create alternative routes to help manage the increased traffic flow. With Ironbark Ridge public school within close proximity, the traffic along Withers Road would substantially increase. It is already a problem which will be made worse.


2. Scale Inconsistency:
The inclusion of a three-storey prayer room in a suburban school development appears excessive. This size suggests more of a place of worship than an educational facility.
Community Fit and Zoning Issues: The three-storey structure is also at odds with the surrounding area, which is primarily residential and characterized by smaller-scale buildings of maximum two storeys. The three storey building would overlook neighbouring properties taking away their privacy. The proposed height of the prayer room which is three storeys is not in keeping with the surrounding and general areas of Beaumont Hills.
A more proportionate building size should be considered, especially given the school’s primary function is meant to be educational rather than a place of worship.

3. Excessive Parking Provisions for Staff:

187 Parking Spaces: The proposed development includes 187 parking spaces specifically for staff and school drop off. In dropping off their child to school, there should be no requirement to park as kiss and drop should be encouraged.
Encouraging Car Use: Providing an excessive number of parking spaces encourages car use rather than alternative, more sustainable modes of transport like walking, cycling, or public transport. School buses should be encouraged rather than offering many places for parents to park. With limited options to park, people will car share, use public transport, walk or cycle.
Environmental Impact: The large parking areas increase the environmental impact of the development, contributing to air pollution and greater traffic congestion. A more reasonable number of parking spaces, aligned with the actual needs of the staff, should be considered to minimize this impact.
4. Groundwater and Stormwater run-off
To the west of the proposal, there is heavily vegetated undeveloped land. It is my belief this land can not be developed in the future as it was previously used as a landfill site. With the footprint of the school increasing significantly and the addition of an underground carpark, ground water and storm water runoff could flow onto this land. I would like to know if an environmental impact assessment has been done to ensure that the residents downhill are not at risk of hazardous waste leaching due to the increased water runoff.

4. Conclusion and Request:

We respectfully ask that the planning committee reconsider the proposed development. The development’s scale and design should be adjusted to better suit the local infrastructure, community character, and environmental goals. Specifically, I request:

A reassessment of the traffic impact and road capacity, including potential upgrades to local roads to accommodate the increased traffic.
A review of the necessity for a three-storey prayer room, with a more modest design that better aligns with the educational function of the school.
A reduction in the parking provision to more realistic levels, encouraging sustainable transport options and reducing the environmental footprint.
A thorough environmental assessment associated with groundwater and stormwater runoff and its interaction with any contaminated land to safeguard both the local ecosystem and the wellbeing of nearby residents.

I hope you will consider these concerns to ensure that the development meets both the needs of the school and the surrounding community in a sustainable, responsible way.
Thank you.

Support the project

Please refer to the attachments.

I think for far too long this educational institution has been under-developed from an infrastructure stand point. It's time our tax dollars were used to improve the quality of schools, provide better educational infrastructure for Australian children and enable them to outpace any competition in the world, while staying firmly grounded within the community.

I support the expansion of Malek Fahd Islamic School wholeheartedly. The project is well-planned, and will service the good community of the Hills and surrounds. Children will have an improved education due to this expansion, and this should be the priority regarding intentions.

There are a lot of students waiting for a spot in an Islamic schools.

This is a much needed expansion for the school/area.

The local transportations are overloaded, every monring the car park alone Metro statation are fulled befoer 7am. Roads in the Hills area experienced heavy trafic from 7am to 10am. Not until the council build more car park and fix the traffic, there is no way a expansion of the school should be approved.

There is significant load on local public school. There is a strong need for expansion of Malek Fahad school to cater for growing young community .

Its a great facility for the community providing high standard education. My kids are part of this school and would love to have more facilities and space added to the school.

I support this project. This school needs an upgrade as soon as possible.

The muslim community is getting bigger in the hills area, and the waiting list is long for this school. My daughter is in the waiting list for 14 months with no luck to get a spot while her siblings are in Malek Fahd school.

Expanding the school will enable our community’s children to study in a comfortable environment that meets their needs.