School parking problem

Panel members raised concerns about future parking issues at the Pomodora Avenue site but ultimately approved the building envelope concept at their meeting on July 28.

The panel had deferred making a decision on the Treasury Department's application in May, prompting revised plans that increased the number of parking bays from 128 to 148 on the 3.75ha site.

The application said there would be another 14 on-street bays around the City of Wanneroo's adjoining shared-use oval.

According to a report to the panel, if the school reached its maximum capacity of 760 students, it would need 191 bays.

Treasury's acting planning, strategic projects and asset sales director, Sandra McLeish, said there were an additional 20 bays on the revised concept plan.

Ms McLeish said the site had several constraints, including lack of access from Kingsway, slope and existing vegetation.

"We are trying to fit on as much parking as we can," she said. "We are really constrained by the access into the site.

"This site is not ideal; it should not have been chosen as a primary school site.

"If we had our chance again, we've suggested to the Department of Education not to choose this (kind of) site."

Ms McLeish said the school would cater for 350 students initially, with scope to add transportable classrooms when it increased to 700 students.

Wanneroo councillor Frank Cvitan said he received many complaints from residents about parking and traffic around other school sites.

"If there is a capacity of 700 students in the future, there will be a need for more parking," Cr Cvitan said.

Panel member Clayton Higham asked why approval was sought for a site considered inadequate, and Ms McLeish said it was needed for strategic planning purposes.

"The other two schools in this area are reaching capacity," she said.

"This is the site that has been provided to them " we don't have any choice."

According to the Education Department website, nearby Landsdale Primary School had 834 full-time equivalent students in the first half of 2015.

In neighbouring suburbs, Ashdale Primary (Darch) had 795, Allinjara Primary (Alexander Heights) had 390, Rawlinson Primary (Marangaroo) had 518 and Madeley Primary had 531.

Although a City officer suggested the panel could include a condition to restrict the number of students at the school, no panel members proposed that amendment.

The panel approved the application as per the officer's original recommendation with 22 conditions, including a minimum of 162 parking bays in or around the site, and 50 bicycle bays.

Ms McLeish said east Landsdale was one of four $14 million primary schools involved in the scheme, with concept plan approval already granted for the Alkimos school in May.

Breakout

ON Friday (Aug 7) Treasurer Mike Nahan announced EduWest as the preferred tenderer under the private-public partnership scheme to build four primary schools, including east Landsdale and south Alkimos, and four secondary schools.

The company is comprised of Macquarie Capital Group Limited, Badge Constructions (WA) Pty Ltd, Perkins (WA) Pty Ltd and Spotless Facility Services Pty Ltd.

"The company’s proposal has best met the State Government’s objectives and will provide value for money," Dr Nahan said.

The successful company would have to finance, design and build eight schools, and maintain them for 25 years, while the State Government would start paying once each school is operational.