Update
St Patrick's College Sutherland will be able to increase student numbers from 1350 to 1500 if a new $13.7 million development proposal is approved.
This was revealed in development application (DA) documents, which also showed the proposed five-storey block includes lower ground floor parking for 30 cars.
On upper levels would be general learning classrooms, technology rooms and science laboratories.
The new block would have a maximum height of 19.5 metres (within the 20 metre prescribed limit), which would be 8.04 metres above the height of the building it would replace.
The DA said St Patrick’s College was officially co-founded in 1956 by the Christian Brothers and in 1960 by the Presentation Sisters.
“An extensive review of the existing facilities identified a necessity to redevelop much of the site to provide modern facilities to meet the needs of the students and staff,” the DA said.
“The school buildings on site have been built haphazardly over an extended period resulting in buildings that are disconnected and learning spaces that are now out of date and no longer fit for purpose.”
After listing various shortcomings, the document said, “The proposal is therefore critical for the long-term viability of the school”.
A similar submission was made in relation to the adjoining St Patrick’s Primary School, where a DA for an 8.2 million upgrade has been lodged.
If successful, the primary school will be able to increase pupil numbers from 560 to 640.
A feature of the proposed three-storey classroom block is a roof top recreation space with both passive and active play areas, amenities and shade sails.
Earlier
A new, five-storey classroom block is proposed for St Patrick’s College, Sutherland in response to “enrolment pressure”.
A development application (DA) was lodged on November 16 for the project, which has an estimated construction cost of $13.7 million.
A second DA was lodged at the same time for an $8.2 million upgrade of the adjoining St Patrick’s Primary School.
The college project would involve the partial demolition of an existing building and construction of a five-storey building, tree removal and landscaping and increase in the student capacity to 1500.
The primary school DA is for alterations and additions, including demolition and tree removal and an increase in the number of students to 640
Sydney Catholic Schools lodged the DAs with Sutherland Shire Council, with documents yet to be uploaded on to the council’s website.
Secondary schools regional consultant Christina Trimble said, In partnership with St Patrick’s parish, Sydney Catholic Schools was “looking to develop an innovative educational precinct in Sutherland”.
“There is growing enrolment pressure on the Catholic schools in the Sutherland area,” she said.
“Sydney Catholic Schools is keen to ensure that a K-12 pathway is available to all students from Catholic families.
“To respond to this need the architect has developed a masterplan which responds to the predicted growth in the school-aged population within the region; the current need for increased recreational space and increased contemporary classroom learning spaces; improved security on the site; and the shared desire of parish and school communities to rationalise occupancy of the entire Catholic site.”
Ms Trimble said the plans submitted to the council for St Patrick’s College were for a five storey building on the corner of President Avenue and Glencoe Street, including a car park, science labs, classrooms for Technology and Applied Studies, and contemporary general learning classrooms.
“An information evening was held at St Patrick’s College Library on August 27 to which parents, parishioners and local residents were invited and given the opportunity to hear the plans of the primary school and secondary college and to ask questions of the principals and the architect,” she said.
More to come