Great news in my opinion, the State Government is finally buying the land below and next to Harbour Mill to build a new 1,000 pupil primary school (according to the Sydney Morning Herald on 16 December 2014, page 6).
In my previous blogs, I reported that discussions had been called off, but an agreement has been reached and the State will pay $74 million for council depot on the corner of Jones, Wattle and Fig Streets, right next to the light rail station, here:
This is rough highlighting but you get the picture.
The NSW Education Minister, Adrian Piccoli said this week:
"Ultimo Public School has been on its current site for 100 years and it needs space to grow as it prepares to deliver quality public education for another century."
He said it would include a child-care centre and after-school care, and it will open on the first day of term one in 2018, three years from now.
Some of you may think having a thousand screaming kids next to the building is not so good, but the reasons I am enthusiastic include:
1. The land would have been sold at some time, it is valuable and almost vacant. If it had gone into private hands, it could have been developed into many tall buildings, potentially blocking views from HM and compromising some of the uniqueness of the location.
2. It will give the area vitality and energy. That's better than being the building at the end of the street with nobody around.
3. It will increase demand to live in HM, increasing the value of the property. This is a primary school, not a high school full of teenage kids. Many working families would love to live next to a school and then walk to work in the city.
4. The actual school is not on the same level as HM but at the bottom of the escarpment. It will not be accessible by car from Jones Street, so there may be little car traffic impact.
I am interested if anyone else feels otherwise. I can see some downside - the light rail station will be terribly busy at certain times of day, there may be more traffic nearby since primary school kids are often driven to school, there may be noise during the day.
But if I think of many uses for such a great location, a school must be one of the better outcomes.
Let me know what you think.
Good morning Elana
ReplyDeleteI agree with you a school is far better than not knowing what would end up there. As you said probably more units. Hopefully it does go through.
Also Elana I must again thank you for all your hard work. An amazing job for one person.
Thank you
Lynne
I agree with Lynne. Great blog and thanks so much for the updates and keeping us all very excited! I think having a primary school is much better than having a high school or another complex of apartments!
ReplyDeleteHi Elana, I fully agree with you, Lynne and Jono - it is excellent that the site will be a primary school. I can't think of a better use of this site than this to be honest. Even a park is not as good - there is heaps of parkland around HM already. A school adds real value for parents in the area and those lucky ones who will live in HM. To add another advantage to your list - a school will necessitate some additional public domain works around the site, including noise protection barriers on the ANZAC bridge (I hope).
ReplyDeleteThank you again for your blog and Merry Christmas!
Hi Elena, interesting point on noise barriers. We should use the school to help us make a case for barriers along the Western Distributor - they have them further up towards the city already, where the road bends. It would be good to continue this barrier along past HM, and from our side, grow greenery along it.
ReplyDeleteNext year, we'll be having Christmas in our new building.
That's great news, and thanks for keeping everyone up to date Elena.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been down to the site for a few months, but from your photos it looks like the construction is coming along nicely.