Rejects plans for school at uni site

A request by Councillor Charbel Abouraad at the last council meeting to write to the NSW Education Minister Prue Car, sought that she “follow through on her previous support for the development of a future state-of-the-art secondary school on the former UWS Milperra site”, but a “watered down” motion meant the department was only going to be asked to investigate its feasibility.
Cr Abouraad said it was encouraging to see the new WSU Campus, which was relocated to Bankstown CBD from Milperra, open its doors and the flow of students bring the streets to life – a demonstration of the importance of educational institutions to an area
“But what is less encouraging is the conversion of valuable educational land into housing at the former campus in Milperra,” he said.
“We have one last chance to establish a new state-of-the-art high school without having to acquire residential, open space or commercial land and this opportunity should not be lost.”
In February 2020, the then NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay, Prue Car and Labor Spokesperson for East Hills, MLC Anthony D’Adam, were at the university calling for the inclusion of a co-ed high school on the site.
A Department of Education spokesperson said that it was not considering the campus as a site for a new co-ed high school.
“We are confident that anticipated future demand can be accommodated in existing schools,” she said.
It also said that the educational needs of students living in the Milperra area were being met by Milperra Public School, Panania North Public School, East Hills Girls Technology High School, East Hills Boys High School and Picnic Point High School.
Cr Abouraad said that in light of the response from the Department of Education, the Labor Government had misled the people of Milperra and the surrounding suburbs, while Cr Linda Downey said that Liberal councillors had plenty of opportunity to lobby the Liberal government to make sure that the community facility was maintained.
Mirvac will build up to 430 dwellings on the site but a planning agreement will see some benefits to the local community, including 1.4 ha of land for three parks, repair and renovate Milperra Community Centre, affordable housing contribution of $5.3 million, $59,400 towards a new cycleway connection to Panania Station to promote active lifestyles and public transport for future residents and the broader Milperra community.