Next week, Melville Council will vote on whether to set aside more than $1.3 million over the next two years, with additional maintenance costs to follow, to develop a third of the Carawatha Primary School site which has been left vacant since 2006.
If passed, works would commence around September and include toilets, lighting, barbecue area, a playground with a barrier and new paths. A portion will remain as bushland.
The City bought land from the Education Department in 2006, with plans to convert one-third of the site to open space and rezone two-thirds for residential and commercial development.
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READ NOWWhile the City said it had no plans for the two-thirds of land at this stage, it has been holding community meetings to assess their needs.
‘Master planning for the Carawatha site is being done as part of a plan for all of Willagee, which will also determine which land uses are best for the site,’ acting Melville Mayor Duncan Macphail said.
‘This process is currently underway, with plans expected to be released for public comment in the coming months.’
In February, a community meeting was held to discuss plans for Willagee and the old primary school site, with many locals calling for a medical hub to be placed at the north-west corner of the site on Archibald and North Lake roads.
‘A medical professional centre that has medical, dental, pathology, physio and all health services is urgently needed for the area,’ Sally Smith, of Willagee said.
The council will also vote on whether to commence the naming process for the park, which would include Carawatha Park as one of the suggestions.