State planners are set to decide whether to approve construction of a Catholic primary school in Madora Bay, due to welcome students as early as next year.
Catholic Education WA has lodged its plans for St Marcellin Catholic College with the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel, which will consider whether to grant approval at its March 20 meeting.
The proposed $14.2 million development is on the corner of Madora Beach and Mandurah roads, opposite Lakelands Shopping Centre.
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READ NOWIt will comprise a pre-kindy, two kindy and two pre-primary classrooms, four general learning areas, a covered space and canteen, and a temporary administration building.
There will also be 79 parking bays and areas for drop-off and pick-up.
This first stage of the school is expected to cater for 260 students, 16 full-time teachers, five part-time teachers and five administrative staff.
According to CEWA, the school will cater for pre-kindergarten to Year 2 students in 2025, with additional year levels added annually until it encompasses Year 12 students from 2035.
Former Kolbe Catholic College vice principal Anita O’Donohue has been appointed the school’s principal.
A report to the panel by City of Mandurah staff recommends approval of the development subject to conditions including construction of a vehicle crossover, submission of a detailed landscaping plan to the city’s satisfaction and the school being connected to the sewer system.
The city’s report said the development was on a vacant site earmarked for a private school under the Madora Bay East Structure Plan in 2015, so public consultation was not considered necessary.
The land belongs to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bunbury, with Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe listed as the owner.
“The development has been designed to ensure a minimal impact on the locality, and modifications have been made to parking and access arrangements to minimise queuing from school pick-ups/drop-offs,” the city’s report said.
“In addition, the design is simple and contemporary in nature reflecting a coastal palette, and the provision of extensive landscaping is considered to provide amenity to the development and surrounding streetscape.”
Plans show classrooms to be built in the northwest section of the site, with future classrooms and a sports oval to the south.
The high school will be built on the southern and western portion of the land, with carparks to run along Eleanore Drive.