I support the refurbishment process and expansion of the school as well as the parking area. That will help include more students without interruption of the neighbours, and will keep the traffic smooth.

As a resident of Beaumont Hills in the vicinity of the Malek Fahd Islamic School, I object to various elements of the above State Significant Development Application. The application as it stands should be rejected. When I moved into the area it was St Gregory's, a small primary school of 40-60 students but after Malek Fahd School took over it has grown since then. Whilst the school has an existing right of use with reference to this site, the proposed dramatic increase of student enrolment is not in keeping with the intention of R2 zoning, nor with residential expectations for this local area. Compared with the Greenacre Campus which is located around business development and local centre zoning. This is not like similar local schools, such as Rouse Hill Anglican which predates surrounding residential development. Finally the majority of students at Malek Fahd travel from significantly out of area and are by and large not residents of Beaumont Hills.
With this in mind these are the key areas of my concern.
NON-COMPLIANCE
The land on which the school is build is zoned R2 Low Density Residential. Under the 'State Environmental Planning Policy Amendment (Bella Vista and Kellyville Transport Oriented Development Precincts) 2024 (Height of Building Map)' the maximum allowable height for our area is 10m. The proposal of a 21m tall prayer hall is in fragrant contradiction to this rule, and should be rejected immediately. Council's LEP states "The height of a building on any land is not to exceed the maximum height shown for the land on the Height of Buildings Map" and does not provide avenue for exception.
TRAFFIC AND PARKING IMPACT
At present, the streets around Malek Fahd are a disaster at school pick up and drop off times. They are busy, often at a standstill, and are unsafe for emergency vehicles etc. The Traffic and Parking Assessment (appendix 9) suggests that this will be mitigated by providing pick up and drop off services on site, being accommodated into the underground car park. However, the Design Report (appendix 5) makes clear that the underground drop off and pick up area will only accommodate 35 cars. The idea that a school's enrolment can increase to 1340 students and 124 staff from 704 and 41 staff, and only provide 35 spots for drop off and pick up, whilst simultaneously lowering the traffic and parking issues on the streets is illogical. This proposal for drop off and pick up is implying a solution for the issues that I already endure during these times, which will not happen and will only increase in greater volume should this extension be approved. The primary issue at present is people parking on surrounding side streets, blocking driveway access and disregarding road rules, especially at pick up and drop off times. I believe this will not change with the provision of these extra underground spaces. Our local streets are narrow, and when this sort of parking is happening, street access currently is difficult enough as it is without having a doubling of enrolment.
VISUAL IMPACT
The most concerning change to visual impact is the 21m tall prayer hall which would dominate the landscape for the surrounding area. The tower is more than double the approved height limit and the proposal's own Visual Impact Assessment (appendix 8) shows this in its photomontage looking south from Honeyeater Crescent. I also note that there is no photomontage from the East of the block, where (owing to the proposed soccer field and open space) the prayer hall would be most visible. In the photomontage looking NW across Mungerie Rd, the exact spot has been chosen such that the prayer hall is obscured behind the tallest trees on site. Going another 10m up the road would show the prayer hall to be obvious. Finally the prayer hall would be blindingly obvious for residents not at ground level (eg. looking from a 2-storey balcony). I feel that these are deceptive measures taken by the planners to make the prayer hall seem less of an inappropriate sight. Even without the prayer hall the development takes the form of a 'tabletop development' with nearly the entire site being taken up by 2 or 3 storey buildings. Where at present, the school is a smattering of buildings with clear sight lines, the new design resembles more so a block that obscures horizon views from every direction especially with the properties which are on the perimetre of the school such as Honeyeater Crescent. This tabletop development has a disastrous effect on the visual impact for surrounding residents, and is not consistent with the overall density or character that is typically associated with R2 zoning of Beaumont Hills. Ultimately the suggestion in the EIS that the proposed development improves the amenity of the built environment is not acceptable. This development will not improve the amenity of the built environment.
SOCIAL IMPACT
The Social Impact Assessment (appendix 24) in the report where the opinions of the planners are the least cognizant with the opinions of local residents. The conclusion of the assessment in section 6.4.2 suggest that, owing to the "potential community uses" of the site and the opportunities for "enhanced engagement" ... and "community interaction" the development will have a "high positive social impact". This is not the experience of those living in the community. The current spaces of the school are not available to the local residents and it is highly unlikely this would change post development. The school as it currently operates does not enhance community engagement or interaction, and there is no reason to suggest that an expansion to the school would do this especially with the presents of security guards. The change to the way of life of the local area including changes to the community's (quoting from the report) "composition, character, cohesion and function, and sense of place". The concerns of residents, while recognised in the report, are cast aside without further discussion. This point requires a thorough objective examination by HillPDA Consulting and the proposal should not be granted consent until this occurs.
ACOUSTIC ASSESSMENT
I am not anti-development with regards to the ongoing noise associated with a school which is to be expected with children playing at lunch times etc at a usual amount of noise. However, quoting from page 51 "The location and design of the Public Address/Bell system has not been undertaken at this stage". Consent must not be allowed until this work is carried out particularly with reference to the on-site minaret. This is of particular concern from an acoustic perspective. It is assumed that there will be a speaker at the top of the minaret, broadcasting the Adhan especially as in the documents reference 5.1/2023 Stage 5 Development it is labelled as a mosque. Until the design of this speaker is known and specification is provided as the the extent of its use (ie.,during school times/days only or outside of school times/days, the acoustic assessment must be considered incomplete and a decision cannot be made.
CONSTRUCTION
I fully understand that there is expected to be noise/traffic/dust issues etc. during construction, however, a 6 year construction period seems excessive and would cause disruption beyond what could be considered normal. Referring back to existing traffic issues.
USE OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL DAY
Simple put, we can find no evidence in the report to suggest the site (especially the Prayer Hall/Mosque) will be in use on weekends and in school holidays, effectively functioning as a normal mosque. Until this is determined, I cannot come to a proper conclusion on several aspects of the site. My thoughts are that this is a school for school purposes only. This information needs to be provided to Beaumont Hills Residence before development consent is granted. It needs to be transparent.

The location and surrounding infrastructure does not support an increase of this magnitude. Given the nature of an independent school, families will commute from various suburbs to attend the school. The scale of the proposed development and size of buildings does not suit the residential location.

1. Increase traffic congestion in Mungerie Rd. The project will lead to a significant rise in traffic congestion.
2. Parking shortage. Most students in this school are from other areas and need drop off snd pick up. There is not enough parking space around.
3. Safety risks. Increased traffic flow raises the risk of accidents, particularly in areas with schools, parks, and pedestrian walkways. Higher vehicle density may pose hazards for children, elders and residents.
4. Loss of community character. Large-scale developments can disrupt the fabric of established neighbourhoods, potential leading to the displacement of long-term residents and altering the area’s character.
5. Insufficient land for student capacity. Nearby schools such as William Clarke and Rouse Hill Anglican have campuses of approximately 23 acres, accommodating around 1600 -1800 students. In contrast, the proposed school expansion aims to accommodate 1300 students on a significantly smaller site of approximately 10 acres. This raises serious concerns about overcrowding, inadequate open space for students, and insufficient for safe and effective learning. The limited land area may also exacerbate traffic congestion, parking shportage, and safety risks in the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

I would like to make a submission on this large scale expansion project that is being planned in a close knit, small(er) suburb of Beaumont Hills.

Beaumont Hills had been a suburb blessed with multi culturalism where no single ethnicity or religious group had a dominant influence. We love the area and people been so open, warm, friendly and the human values.
Having a large expansion a school closely associated with one specific religion/ethnic group will clearly influence the demography of the suburb and the beautiful balance that it had through out.
This is because, invariably property that go up for sale will be bought predominantly by the Muslim community and over time the whole suburb and likely adjoining Rouse Hill suburb will be dominated by Muslims. (similar to Auburn, Lakemba etc)

Further there is a very large School already in North Kellyville, within a radius of 2 km or 4.3 km driving distance (Australian International Academy - https://www.aia.nsw.edu.au/) promoting Islamic faith. This school is also expanding rapidly.

This proposed development will most certainly increase the density of one ethnic group and will pose a dominance that would harm the balance that Beaumont Hills had since its inception.

Therefore, as much as I like providing learning opportunities to our next generation, due to the aforementioned downsides, I will be strongly objecting the project.

Kind Regards,
A resident in Rebellion Cct, Beaumont Hills

While I acknowledge the importance of educational facilities in our community, I have concerns regarding the potential impacts of the expansion on the local area. My objections are as follows:

Traffic and Parking Concerns: The proposed expansion is likely to significantly increase traffic congestion in the surrounding streets, particularly during peak school hours. The current infrastructure is already under strain, with existing schools such as Malek Fahd Islamic School, Ironbark Ridge Public School, and Our Lady of the Angels College already contributing to congestion on Wither Road and Mungerie Road, as well as significant congestion along Samantha Riley Drive. Additional students and staff may exacerbate these issues, leading to further traffic delays and parking shortages, affecting residents and local businesses.

Environmental Impact: The expansion may result in the removal of green spaces and increased noise pollution, which could negatively affect the surrounding environment. Increased vehicle emissions due to higher traffic volumes will also contribute to local air pollution.

Infrastructure Strain: The current public utilities and services, including roads, drainage, and public transport, may not be sufficient to support a larger school population. This could result in further deterioration of existing infrastructure, leading to additional maintenance costs for the community.

Community Amenity and Character: The scale of the proposed expansion may alter the character of the local area, potentially affecting the residential nature of the neighborhood. Beaumont Hills is a tranquil and close-knit community, and the proposed school expansion threatens to disrupt its quiet charm. The increased activity and congestion will fundamentally alter the character of the neighborhood, making it less livable for residents who value its peaceful atmosphere. Increased activity levels could reduce the peaceful environment that residents currently enjoy.

Lack of Adequate Consultation: There has been insufficient engagement with the local community regarding the proposal. Proper consultation should be conducted to ensure that residents’ concerns are adequately addressed before approval is granted.

I respectfully urge the planning authority to carefully consider these concerns and request that appropriate measures be taken to mitigate the negative impacts before any decision is made on the proposal.

As a local resident within close proximity to the Malek Fahd Islamic School (on and around Guardian Avenue), I object to this project on the basis that the substantial school growth to accommodate a proposed nearly tripling of student population will dramatically increase traffic flow in the area, that already experiences heavy congestion now. Local traffic is already a problem resulting from established schools on Withers Road and significant developments at North Kellyville Square. In the near future this will be further compounded by commitments made to Transport Oriented Development (TOD) near local metro stations. Beamont Hills has small residential streets unable to support this volume of traffic. My immediate neighbourhood already experiences difficulties, unable to enter or exit their properties during the peak school start and finish times. Due to the current traffic, poor/dangerous driving practices (eg illegal u-turns) are already commonplace. Additionally, such an increase in student population will inevitably bring noise to surrounding properties. The double storey constructions will be visible from my street frontage and combined with the removal of large established trees will sadly impact the visual amenity of our neighbourhood. The local neighbourhood and infrastructure is unable to support development of this scale; both the period of construction and the resulting expansion would subject the community to excessive and unreasonable disruption.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed expansion of this school. While I understand the need for growth and development, I am deeply concerned about the negative impact this expansion will have on the local community, particularly regarding traffic congestion, parking issues, and increased noise pollution.

Impact on Local Community: The negative consequences of this expansion are not limited to traffic and noise. This project could fundamentally alter the character of our neighborhood, which has always been a peaceful residential area. I am concerned about the long-term effects this will have on property values and the overall livability of the area.

Traffic Chaos and Road Safety: The expansion is likely to lead to a significant increase in traffic volume in an already busy area. The surrounding roads are not equipped to handle the additional flow of vehicles, particularly during peak hours when school starts and ends. This will not only cause delays and frustration for local residents, but it could also result in dangerous conditions for pedestrians, especially children, who walk in the area. I urge the council to carefully consider how this expansion will affect the safety of road users and pedestrians.

Parking Issues: The expansion is likely to exacerbate the already limited parking availability in the area. Many local residents rely on street parking, and with the anticipated increase in staff, parents, and visitors, this will put additional strain on an already overburdened parking situation. This will lead to even more competition for spaces, further congestion, and inconvenience for local residents.

Noise Pollution: Expanding the school will also result in increased noise levels, especially during construction and at times when the school operates at full capacity. The additional noise from construction, large groups of children during recess, and the general increase in activity will create significant disturbance to the residents who live nearby, some of whom rely on quiet surroundings for work or rest. I ask the council to consider the noise impact and to propose measures to mitigate this disruption.

In light of these concerns, I respectfully urge the council to reconsider or delay the approval of this expansion until a more comprehensive plan is developed, one that fully addresses these issues and explores alternatives that minimize the impact on the local community.

Thank you for considering my objection.

The roads can not cope as they are

There are a number of schools within close proximity
OLA- malek Fahad- Beaumont Hills public- IronBark Ridge, Rouse Hill High School.
All serviced by single lane roads . It’s terrible .
It simply doesn’t work and any expansion to this school is one clearly made with no care behind the local community

The increase of traffic and noise will decrease the value of houses in the area and will be harder for my kid to go to school thru rush hours. He already needs to get out of the house at 7.30 to go to William Clarke College every morning. Government should spend more money to build up the roads here as they are not built for so many residents including the people at North Kellyville pancages. Traffic is a nightmare on weekdays. Thank you.