New High School in Bungendore

As a family with small children, the high school looks amazing. It gives us the opportunity to give our children a country lifestyle whilst supporting their education locally. The high school campus looks great, bringing together a community hub with other community resources.

I support the need for a High School in the growing town of Bungendore, however the site location leaves no room for growth and inhibits the community. The simple fact that there is a new estate for 1000 homes - not people, but HOMES - being built on top of the 4000 current residents in Bungendore alone (without taking into consideration the surrounding areas) a high school accommodating 400 students is ridiculous and under resourced and planned from the beginning.

The current location will also hinder the current primary school students and is quite frankly dangerous to have the congestion that will come from this current plan.

There are plenty of space available to accomodate a high school which has room and to give the high school students the space they need.

This is a much needed project for the community and will be an amazing asset for the local community.
I fully support the combined nature of the high school and primary school and believe it will benefit the community for generations to come

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

Dear Sir/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):

1. The site location is inadequate for the purpose of a High School to meet with the communities needs and expectations for all the families who would be looking to have their children/grandchildren and family members attend as soon as it would become available. This is both relating to todays plans and for any future growth in this beautiful area of BUNGENDORE.
2. The transport congestion would be a serious issue to those in the close proximity to the proposed site and for those already struggling with the transport issues, parking and safety of those people collecting children from the nearby existing public school and indeed the childcare centre on Turallo Terrace.
3. The safety of the Children in the local vicinity who would be expected to walk or need to be transported to the developing Sports Hub, across busy roads.
4. The loss of a facility (swimming pool) that was built and paid for by monies collected and donated from community involvement and which currently provides facilities to the existing primary school.
5. The complete lack of interest and actions by the council and the education authority to effectively engage, consult and listed to the communities views and concerns in an appropriate manner.
6. The fact that other more suitably placed land has been offered as a location that would be supported by the community.
7. This proposal is not an ethical decision made in the true context of taking on board the communities comments, objections and proposals for an alternative site in Bungendore.

I have not, and no associate of mine, has made any political donation to any person in the 2 years preceding this submission.

This is amazing for bungendore
Both the primary school and new high school
Win win for bungendore
I am sick of the aggressive campaign against it
Please make this happen for our town
Please note I am fearful of stating my support of this project because of the repercussions
Thank you for putting forward such a great plan for bungendore
Kind regards

Judith Smyth
Street Address Withheld
Bungendore
NSW 2621


13 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 reasons
1. I believe the land the school is being built on is community land and it will be fenced off ensuring that older people like me will be unable to walk there and small kids won’t be able to play there. It is true there is a new children’s play area going in but I know my grandchildren would prefer to run around in the grass rather than play on equipment.
2. I have been in Bungendore for 12 years and the park and pool have been the heart of the town, grass, trees, kids having fun in park and pool giving the area a true country town atmosphere.
3. I know we need a high school here but I feel the edge of town is much more appropriate for a town which is growing as fast as Bungendore. I lived in a similar town in the 1980s, a new high school was built at the edge of town (where my children attended) and that school has grown exponentially and is in the middle of town now. My point is that this sight is inappropriate when you consider future growth.

I am a member of the Labor Party but I have not been involved in any meetings or party activities since 2019.


Yours faithfully,

Judith Smyth

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):

This proposed development will achieve a loss of public space in the centre of Bungendore which has been owned by the community of Bungendore for several generations.

The finite nature of the proposed area available for development is going to mean that a limited number of students will be able to attend. As the area is one of the fastest growing in the country population wise, a more appropriate site with room to expand that doesn't mean the destruction of our park would be a wiser option.

As much as I'm for a new high school for Bungendore, there are far more appropriate sites that this council has chosen to ignore for reasons unknown as there has been NO public consultation on other proposed sites.

The proposed developments design is inappropriate in context of the surrounding heritage of the town, its pre fabricated design does not fit with Bungendore town centres historic nature.

The increase in traffic and redirection and road closures will increase risk for the students who already attend the primary school.

I have not, and no associate of mine, has made any political donation to any person in the 2 years preceding this submission. [If you have made any political donations, check the Department of Planning’s website for the relevant disclosure form.]


Yours faithfully,

Lindsay Davy

Refer to attached submission.

Bungendore has a lovely rural village character and is a popular destination as a consequence.
I object to the proposal because it will compromise/alter the pleasant character of the village.2020 research found Bungendore to be 2nd best rural town in Australia based on criteria in including
town character and natural beauty of the area.
Why jeopardize/ alter those fundamental aspects of the towns character when there are more than one more suitable sites for the school just outside the present boundaries of the town, which would not be limited to 450 students as the village continues to grow?
Mick Sherd Oval and it’s facilities are popular recreation draw cards for visitors and residents alike, and Majara St is a well used walking route to the off-leash common area and on to the attractive lakes walkway. This route would be lost and replaced by traffic and parking congestion.
Council and State should be open-minded and not influenced by the mere $12million proceeds from the sale of the Council premises if the development goes ahead.
We need to preserve the unique characteristics which we enjoy. They contribute enormously to the rural integrity of the village.

In favour of a High School in Bungendore
This Location is a big NO.

The need for a high school in Bungendore is not contested, and, I believe, strong support within the community for a high school has been demonstrated.
My concern, and the concern of a significant number of Bungendore community members, is the location that has been chosen and the process by which this location was selected. Because of the opaque nature of the process and the apparent disregard for the protections afforded Bungendore Park under the Crown Lands Act, this important project will be delayed well past the original Semester 1, 2023 deadline promised by the Deputy Premier during the NSW State Election campaign (who has now resigned)
Documents uncovered under FOI investigations by concerned community groups have clearly demonstrated that there was at least one alternative appropriate site identified well before the Bungendore Park/Council Chambers proposal but this site was dismissed when the current site was inexplicably proposed. This decision has greatly divided the community and condemned the development of a high school for Bungendore to a distant and uncertain future. If the work had begun on the Ashby site on Tarago Road I have no doubt that we would be well passed the current progress achieved under the current proposal.
The current proposal:
- does not meet community requirements
- does not comply with development and subdivision restrictions applicable to Crown Land
- is out of character for a historically-significant part of the village
- is unable to expand to accommodate future growth and this is of huge concern to me.
- requires road closures that significantly reduce community amenity and are unlikely to be within the jurisdiction of the local government to enact
- significantly impact the quiet enjoyment of a public space originally gazetted in the late 19th century.
- significant lead contamination found beside rail line
- this project will significantly take away communal green space
- flooding on proposed school Agriculture area
- traffic control and flow

I am deeply concerned about the motivation of the NSW Government and the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council in blindly pursuing this proposal in the light of these objections. I do believe an open, public inquiry into this proposal is critical to ensure community harmony and support for a high school for this important part of the LGA.
Progress on this application should stop until these matters are properly and openly clarified.
With the world changing so rapidly in the past 2 years, we now know that we need more open green space for people to work, play and learn.
Taking this park/oval and centre communal area way from the Bungendore Community just makes no sense.
We are a rural village and it is this that attracts so many people to want to live here. Leave this already communal area for the whole community to use.
Place our New High School in a much bigger more suitable area that will meet the future needs of our growing younger Bungendorians, where we can attract the best the brightest of educators to come to Bungendore.
We need to bring our Bungendore Community together and not divide us.

I support the project for the building of a new high school in Bungendore at the proposed location. The location is the most practical as it creates a central education precinct for the community.

Creating an education precinct enables cross school and cross curriculum activities. The close proximity also enables the sharing of specialist staff between the two sites as well as sharing specialist classroom spaces. The other advantage with the proposed site is that as the relationship between high school and primary school develops there is the opportunity to develop 'middle school' or primary to high school transition programs. Also allows for the development of leadership opportunities for senior students working with primary school students.

Locating the high school away from the proposed site creates challenges for parents picking up and dropping off children at different sites. Also creates student safety issues especially if students are required to walk along main roads or highways.

I support the proposed Bungendore High School in its current proposed location.

I object to the site of the proposed Bungendore High School project.
The proposed site for the High School in Bungendore is completely wrong. It was presented to the town with no consultation or discussion and pushed with unseemly haste. The proposal includes building on part of the town's historical Oval, which is a well-used community asset, a pleasant green space in the centre of town and an original feature of early Bungendore. By building on part of the Oval and reducing its size, the character of the town will be greatly changed. The High School must be built on the edge of town, in a location where it can expand when necessary. The Bungendore population is growing and the current proposed site will not accommodate sufficient growth for additional students. The proposed site will result in a high cost to the community, with the loss of community resources such as the well-used swimming pool, the site of the Abbeyfield housing project, a large chunk of the Oval, the Community Centre, part of the off lead dog exercise area and perfectly functional Council buildings. The error of proposing the site is now compounded by the knowledge that the soil along the rail corridor in and around Bungendore is contaminated with lead and other heavy metals from the historical rail transportation of ore from the long-closed Lake George mine at Captain's Flat. The current High School proposal includes building near the rail corridor, which will disturb the soil and mobilise the contaminants. This will not be a healthy or safe environment for children.
The cost of the proposed Bungendore High School appears to be high in comparison to the cost of the proposed Jerrabomberra High School. The latter is lower in cost for more students. Bungendore is not getting good value for money.
There is an historical grave in the south eastern corner of the Oval, and this should not be ignored or built over. Respect and dignity should be given to the person buried there.
There is a proposal to close part of Majara St to accommodate the new high school buildings. This will cause traffic chaos in an already congested area.
Bungendore needs a high school, but not at the proposed site. Find a location on the edge of town with room to expand and without unreasonable changes to some of Bungendore's well loved assets.
I have attached two documents, the Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council Bungendore Structure Plan, in which the predictions for the increase in Bungendore's population and housing are stated;and the notification from Transport NSW of detection of lead contamination in the rail corridor in and near Bungendore.

I support the proposed High School in Bungendore (SSD-14394209). I support the centrality of the proposed location and the added benefits this will bring to the wider community. I have reviewed the plans and am now satisfied the current amenity of the oval will be retained and the significant sites (Cenotaph, sports field, playground, tennis courts etc.) will be protected. I look forward to seeing a considered landscape plan that that is complimentary to the local region and blends and softens the new buildings with the park and the surrounding hills.

Dear Sir or Madam,

NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN BUNGENDORE APPLICATION NO. SSD-14394209

I refer to the above state-significant development application.

I STRONGLY OBJECT to the proposal, for the following reasons:

- The traffic issues the high school would cause
- The lead contamination of the nearby soil
- The loss of land that is dedicated to public use and recreation
- The chosen site has no room for expansion - this leaves no room for inevitable population growth (due to the continuous development of housing estates)
- Our town has no other centrally located open spaces to lose - this space is particularly significant to our community
- Lack of consultation with the community
- Demolition of community facilities - swimming pool and community centre
- THE LOSS OF 73 MATURE TREES - THESE TREES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY LOCAL COMMUNITY. They bring so much to the village. It would be absolutely devastating to see these trees replaced by awful school buildings and fences


I have not, and no associate of mine, has made any political donation to any person in the 2 years preceding this submission.

Yours faithfully,

Laura Dowling

I object to the site location and design.
I object on the basis of the Bungendore community amenity, the location is inappropriate and the equivalent of community theft.
I object on the basis of the loss of the swimming pool and the inappropriate relocation away from the centre of town
I object on the basis of the inconsiderate impact on the heritage and history of Bungendore. the Mick Sherd oval is an important leisure and green space in the centre of town. The town is reminiscent of all country towns and its wide streets, park and facilities are a draw card for families. Poking a large and noisey highschool in the centre of town is very poor planning and reflective of the poorly considered politically expedient decision with zero consideration of a) the educational purpose of the facility, b) educational pedagogy in the 21st C, c) the environment and green-space, d) transport and passive activity in the area, e) traffic and movement of children in the area, f) wildlife g) heritage and history h) failure to recognise the impact of the development in the context of the total village.
Education - it is beyond this writer to believe that this is the plan for high school education in 2021. There is limited green-space, buildings are not free flowing and not at all cogniscent of modern progressive educational pedagogy. The school will need to cater for all children's needs including art, music, physical education, the disabled, the intellectually handicapped - there is simply insufficient space.
Growth - in other documentation, Queanbeyan Palerang SC have stated that the town is vetted to grow from its current population to double and triple in the next time frame. 450 students will potentially become 900 in a short period as the developers build greater numbers of housing on smaller blocks of land. This high school can not cope with any growth and within 20 years will be outdated and in need of a new site. Long term planning is not considered.
Environment - theft of green-space is not well received by residents. The green-space is vitally important to maintaining the amenity of the village. There is no green-space planning in this design, there is no passive transport considerations via cycling or walking, and the main consideration seems to be large truck access and car turning circles. This is not an inner city community. You will loose the chance to prove planning can consider the needs of the community. Water is poorly considered and stormwater runoff is a major issue for Bungendore. hardening surfaces on Mick Sherd Oval is a poor decision as hardened grounds, roofs will direct water too quickly into the Turrallo Creek system that already floods into town. See weather events this winter when parts of town were blocked due to flood water.
Community - the plan does not address the needs of the community. The roads and streets leading into the proposed facility are mostly poorly planned and maintained, with no guttering or cycle or walkways. 450 children will be using these areas and they are not up to par. The QPS is financially unable to deal with this. Likewise, other users of the area will be severely impacted.Mick Sherd oval is a convenient meeting place for all manner of people needing open space. The reduction in space, vehicle movements and especially NOISE, will severely impact them. This is not well thought out.
Amenity - the space is currently a soft, passive exercise area. Beside a few hours on a weekend for major sports, the facility is mainly passive, exercising, walking, catching up, kids on play equipment, people playing tennis, meeting near the regional bus stop. This will all be heavily impacted.
Traffic impact during development and functioning - this is all too much of an impact.
History and Heritage - the site is the location of century old sporting facility, the war memorial, and indigenous heritage site. I object to this being impacted on this poor choice of site. Even the design is post modern, concrete and block. This does not sit at all with the heritage zone of Bungendore - the original school, the train station, where recruits caught the steam train to join the forces in 1915, the community hall, the Post Office, the heritage trees - there is far to great an impact on these from another stark construction, the loss of the shire offices, that we were promised would remain when we had merging thrust upon us. This is too much to lose. The lose of the community swimming pool, funded and built with community donations is a real slap in the face. Towns people on a hot day often walk or ride to the pool, in the heart of town. Once again, they will be forced into their cars to travel across the highway to the "proposed" new pool, that is neither funded or budgeted. This promised proposal is tantamount to a lie. It is a ridiculous planning concept to move a current facility to make way for another, other than the political expediency of it all.
I object to the proposal because it is not clever. It does not show innovative planning. It does not take account of future environmental issues such as global warming by assuming the use of cars. In Europe, planners have abandoned plans that rely on cars. Space is created for use of passive vehicles, safe walking space, safe cycling. This pretentious box of school rooms fails that test.
Where? - At each step we have been told there are no other locations for a high school. This is known to be patently rubbish. Developers are able to purchase, develop and create hundreds of acres of new land for housing. We are told its all about infrastructure. That cannot be true either. Water in, waste out, power from the grid can all be arranged, away from flood zones, providing educational facilities, in a safe and healthy environment without stealing space from the residents of the village. The zone around the Mick Sherd Oval is residential, and the amenity around that should be paramount in the planning.
I am not opposed to a high school in town. I am opposed to a cobbled together design that suits no one in the long term
Thank-you for the opportunity to comment.
Greg Roberts

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):
- the site proposed is not an adequate location, the land size does not even meet the State Governments minimum requirements and for the long term, the town will outgrow the school and then what? We are not a large city with limited options for land to build a new high school. We are a rural town where the high school can be built in another, better location and have more space for our students. This would also mean we keep our park for public use and it would not have to be shared or taken over by the high school.

While the school might be necessary the selected site is going to damage the community, removes vital infrastructure. there's been lead found in the area by the New South Wales government meaning that the site is entirely not suitable. there is also some question as to the validity of the site selection given public announcements that the land being used was private. in actual fact it is public land the proposal intends to close several streets to cut the village in two, and render useless one of only two flood water accesses to the village for the residents of elmsley

I am one of many bungendore parents that can not wait to have a high school in bungendore!
I fully support the building of the high school in its proposed location as I believe it will be beneficial to families to have both the primary school and high school co located. It will also mean many children will be able to walk to both schools meaning no need for additional transportation and time spent travelling. Shared resources between the high school, primary school and community means less additional expenses and up keep.

As a regular visitor to Bungedore, I love arriving in the heritage village, leaving the railway station to walk along Gibraltar St to the pub for lunch. Cenotaph a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by the the young men of the district. Devastated to learn that this area will be taken over by massive construction and the Park will be reduced to a shadow of its former self. Large modern prefab building completely inappropriate and out of character. War memorial dwarfed by development.

Please do not do this.

I object to the construction of a high school in this location. It will be detrimental to the village and community by taking away a central, popular and beautiful green space. This is the only space of this kind in the village.
I am also concerned about the increase in traffic around the school due to the proposed road closures. In addition the removal of the swimming pool which is used consistently in the warmer months does not consider the community needs.
The high school will change the lovely open feel of the village. There are other more suitable locations which are larger and have the capacity for the school to grow in the future.