The plans for St Matthew's new secondary campus were put to the community through a number of webinars last week, to provide an overview of the project that's set to start from scratch with a paddock.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nine hectares of the site - at the intersection of Broadhead and Bruce roads - will be the school footprint, which is effectively a completely blank slate at the moment.
"It's quite a large spread of space and the land capacity that's not at the current [Lewis Street] site," Colby Crane, associate director of Urbis who hosted the webinars, said.
"The design principles have been utilising that natural space and light that's out at the Broadhead Road site. It's very flat but has beautiful mountains behind it.
"They're looking at maximising the use of the natural light and ventalation opportunities that flow through the site, to keep it nice and cool. As well as the energy efficiency of the site, it has very complex and integrated sustainable design systems - for water in particular.
"They began with the basics of what they wanted. Then they spoke to students and teachers, we were out there in November, then they came back with other ideas from the students who will be going to this school and the teachers who'll be teaching the subjects.
"It's a long process, but they want to get it right, because new schools don't happen very often - and they want to make sure there's that clarity around what they want the school to achieve.
"The feedback we've had from the community has been very positive, they were predominantly parents of students at the school - but also surrounding businesses and people who use the [Lewis Street] area - who see that it's congested. And they know that taking half of the students off the site will really alleviate that space and make that area flow better."
More information about the project can be found at stmatthewssecondarycampus.com, emailing engagement@urbis.com.au, or calling 1800 244 683. And check out some of the plans at planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/project/12161