SUBIACO councillors have given conditional approval to a new State Government-proposed high school at Kitchener Park next to Subiaco Oval.
At a special meeting closed to the public last night councillors supported working with the Government if “significant issues” were addressed, including a Memorandum of Understanding before the park is handed over, although their preference was for the park to be kept for sport.
The council also wanted shared management with the Department of Education over adjacent Subiaco Oval, which they want on the State Heritage Register, and a revised WA Football Commission lease be developed for the site.
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READ NOWCouncillors asked for more green space in the western suburbs to balance the loss at the park, congestion managed in the precinct, and their representatives to continue on the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority developing the area.
Last week, the State Government proposed a new high school next to Perth Modern School to serve overflowing western and inner city classes.
The decision diffused opposition to the Government’s plan to move Perth Modern to an inner city high rise building, but ignited supporters of the previous government’s plan to refurbish and partially rebuild City Beach High School.
At the special meeting, Subiaco chief executive Don Burnett said it had a better working relationship with the current Government than its predecessor, but sites other than the park had not been discussed in recent talks with Planning Minister Rita Saffioti.
“That has been public space for 100 years, and this is most definitely planning on the run,” neighbouring Housing Authority resident Iva Hayward-Jackson said.
Doubleview residents Katherine Clements and Joanne Frietz both said the Government had not shown student numbers to support the need for the new school instead of the City Beach option, and even with a school in the park, Churchlands High School could reach 3200 students in 2020.
“I’m all for Premier McGowan’s proposal because it serves the growing populations of Wembley, West Leederville, Subiaco, and other catchments,” Wembley resident Jo Walker said.
A spokesman for Mr McGowan said the council’s conditions had to be assessed, but its decision was welcomed.
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