The Department of Education has released the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the redevelopment of Chatswood Primary and High Schools.

Executive Summary

The NSW Department of Education proposes upgrades to Chatswood Public School and Chatswood High School to increase the capacity of both schools and provide new and upgraded facilities. This will involve site preparation work, the relocation of the Chatswood Intensive English Centre, the removal of 62 trees, and construction of six (6) new school buildings to provide a total of 60 permanent learning and teaching spaces at Chatswood Public School and 123 permanent learning and teaching spaces at
Chatswood High School, with associated upgrades to core facilities, landscaping and play-spaces.

Across the two schools, the upgrades will support high-quality educational outcomes to meet the needs of students within the local community and deliver innovative learning and teaching spaces as follows:
• More than 150 new and refurbished permanent innovative learning and teaching spaces which
facilitate the removal of 53 demountable classrooms;
• Increased quality active play space;
• Specialist teaching facilities;
• Dedicated performing arts spaces;
• New sports facilities and recreational areas; and
• New libraries and administration facilities.

As the works have a capital investment value exceeding $20 million, the project is deemed to be State Significant Development under State Environmental Planning Policy (State and Regional Development) 2011. The proposed works will generate up to 266 new construction jobs and up to 20 new full time equivalent operational jobs.

Chatswood Public School is located at 5 Centennial Avenue and Chatswood High School is located at 24 Centennial Avenue, within the Local Government Area of Willoughby. Chatswood Public School is listed as a heritage item of local significance under Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012 and building A and Building B are identified as heritage items on the Department of Education’s Section 170 Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 1977.

The Public School is zoned R2 Low Density Residential, and the High School is zoned part SP2 Special Uses – Educational Establishment and part E2 Environmental Conservation under Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012. Development for the purpose of an educational establishment is permissible with consent in both the R2 and SP2 zones, where works are proposed.

The Department of Education has consulted with the local community, Willoughby Council and State government agencies throughout the design of the development. Feedback provided through this time has been incorporated and addressed in final design and supporting documentation.

Environmental impacts associated with the proposed development have been the subject of detailed assessment, including impacts associated with built form, heritage, biodiversity and traffic/parking. The assessment finds that while the proposal will generate impacts, these impacts can generally be mitigated such that their outcomes are acceptable.

The proposed works have been assessed on balance as providing significant public benefit to the immediate local and surrounding district through the provision of increased enrolment capacities for both the primary and secondary aged students within new educational facilities.

This Environmental Impact Statement report has been prepared under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, in accordance with the Secretary’s Environmental Assessment requirements for SSD 9483 issued by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and Schedule 2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000. The works proposed under this DA will be subject to the recommendations of specialist reports so as to ensure appropriate outcomes are achieved.

The proposed works have been designed to, and will be carried out in, the interests of the public. Theworks will meet the project objectives to provide additional capacity at both schools within high-quality,future-focussed learning and teaching facilities.

Accordingly, it is requested that the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces grant approval to the proposed State Significant Development application as set out in this report.

Summary details

You can access the full details HERE.

Submissions close 30 April 2020

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