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State Significant Development

Assessment

Minarah College

Camden

Current Status: Prepare Amendment Report

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

Staged construction of a new school to cater for a maximum of 1,580 students in Kindergarten to Year 12 in Catherine Field.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (2)

SEARs (2)

EIS (33)

Response to Submissions (24)

Agency Advice (6)

Additional Information (9)

Submissions

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Showing 1 - 20 of 293 submissions
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Catherine Huitt
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Application Number: SSD-30759158 - Minarah College

Attention: Nahid Mahmud


Dear Mr Mahmud,

I am writing in regard to the proposed development SSD-30759158 Minarah College Catherine Field.

As a resident of Catherine Field for the last 22 years, I object to the proposal.

I have reviewed the plans and documents concerning this development and want to put forward my concerns:

1. The proposed development is incompatible with the existing character of the local area. This is a rural and semi rural part of Catherine Field.
2. Without a change of the area to residential zoning (nothing in the near future) why is there a need for a school if only to service students from outlying suburbs?
3.The road access in Catherine Field is only 3 local roads that have for as long as I have lived in the area been in less than an acceptable state. They are constantly in need of repair and regardless of the weather, are extremely narrow, poorly line marked if at all, have no shoulder, no kerb and gutter, no footpaths, no cycleways, dangerous sharp bends with no barrier protection for resident's homes and in times of heavy rain most of the roads are flooded and inaccessible.
4. The area has little or no street lighting making visibility at night dangerous particularly during times of heavy fog.
5. Traffic flow has increased substantially since the opening of the 'temporary road - Lukes Lane' on to Springfield Road. Morning and afternoon peaks are busy with many vehicles using this as a short cut to Bringelly Road and Leppington station. More buses, trucks and semi trailers travelling above the speed limit use these local roads.
6. Vehicle still travel at high speed regardless of the new 60km/hr signage so walking, cycling or even parking on the roads is dangerous.
7. In the last 6 months there have been 3 major accidents on Springfield Road alone that I am aware of. All of them due to high speed. One of them being a fatality in front of my property. The next week on 2 separate occasions I witnessed vehicles losing control at speed and skidding in to neighbour's properties.
8. Residents of this part of Catherine Field don't walk or cycle on the roads out of concern for their own safety.
9. Extra traffic generated by a large school would be a major concern.
10. Vehicles queueing to pick up and drop off students would cause traffic congestion on Catherine Field Road.
11. Vehicles idling, whilst waiting to pick up and drop off students, emit exhaust fumes that are detrimental to the surrounding neighbours.

I believe SEARs 9. Traffic, Transport and Accessibility requirements have not been met.

12. General school noise is an issue for the local area including regular school bells and announcements over the outside PA systems. Especially affecting neighbours adjoining the proposed development.
13. Neighbouring properties will lose their privacy and peace.

I believe SEARs 11. Noise and Vibration requirements have not been met.

14. The removal of trees is an issue that is of concern being that some of this vegetation is considered 'protected' environmentally. No trees in a 'green belt area' have previously been able to be removed for any reason.
15. What happens in times of heavy rain when the septic system of such a large development will be affected by water ingress and overflow into the natural water course ie. South Creek causing cross contamination?
16. The greatest concern is the diversion of stormwater overflow. This will affect properties on the lower side of Catherine Field Road causing flooding and eventually the flooding of South Creek which borders the rear of my property and many others. With such a large development having multiple roof tops and large concreted areas the excess rainwater has no way of being absorbed by the land. This has to compound the water run off problem.

I believe SEARs 13. Stormwater and Wastewater requirements have not been met. The minimum requirement is to 'Provide an Integrated Water Management Plan for the development that avoids adverse impacts on any downstream properties'.

For these reasons I believe the proposed development of Minarah College will have a substantial impact on our local community.
Therefore I oppose the development.

Regards,
Catherine Huitt
Name Withheld
Object
AMBARVALE , New South Wales
Message
17 July 2022

Dear Mr Mahmud

RE: Submission SSD 30759158
I am a truck driver who collects my vehicle daily from a nearby property to that of the proposed Minarah College site on Catherine Field Road.
I object to the proposal of Minarah College in Catherine Field.
Over the past 5 years the streets in Catherine Field, particularly Catherine Field Road, have deteriorated considerably with little to no remedial works having been undertaken. Works have only been conducted in recent years after particularly inclement weather, namely excessive rain. Catherine Field Road has been a dangerous stretch of road for some time now with innumerable pot holes unsafe edges and uneven surfaces changing the way people have been able to drive on the road and quite often this is not in a straight line. The constant swerving of vehicles to avoid damaging pot holes, water pooling or large pieces of road debris makes this narrow lane road incredibly dangerous. In addition there are there are no street lights lining the road because it is a rural road.
How this road can accommodate any further traffic seems impossible. I have been able to read through the Environmental Impact Statement and note The Camden Council letter dated 23 December 2021 attached to the report conducted by Ason Group states, “Catherine Fields road is a rural road”. This same letter lists one of the requirements being that the Traffic Advice report must detail “The capacity for the narrow rural road (Catherine Fields road) to handle the traffic volumes associated with the development and likely maintenance burden”. My understanding of this is that Camden Council have recognised that there may be concerns in relation to the ‘narrow rural road’ and the capacity to handle the traffic that a school of 1,580 students will bring.
In addition, 3.4.1 of The Transport & Accessibility Impact Assessment clearly states: Currently there are no provisions for footpaths along the Catherine Fields road. Also, there is no anticipated footpath works planned for the Catherine Field area. This concerns me as the driver of a heavy vehicle. The road is so narrow that for heavy vehicles to accommodate for pedestrian traffic would be exclusively impossible.

Given this information, I oppose.

Yours sincerely
Name Withheld
Object
LEPPINGTON , New South Wales
Message
I strongly object to Minarah College SSD30759158
Attachments
Eamonn Coogan
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
To whom it may concern,

I object to the construction of the Minarah College in Catherine Field.
See below examples of the requirements not being delivered.

For example: SEARs 9. Traffic, Transport & Accessibility

I do not believe that the SEARs requirements of 9. Traffic, Transport & Accessibility have been met due to Ason Group's "Surveyed Traffic Volumes" being conducted during a 'pandemic event'. They themselves state on pages 24-25 "This has a potential impact on the integrity and consistency of any traffic surveys undertaken during this period"
I believe this report does not accurately represent 'completeness, accuracy, quality and clarity' of the information in the EIS.
On this basis I Object

For example: SEARs 11. Noise & Vibration
I do not believe that the SEARs requirements of 11. Noise and Vibration have been met due to Day Design Pty Ltd's "Measured Ambient Noise Level' firstly being conducted during Covid lockdown and secondly due to their admission of a missing noise logger at 'Location A' for 18 days out of the 25 days. Therefore, I deem this report to be inaccurate and incomplete.
I believe this report does not accurately represent completeness, accuracy, quality and clarity of the information in the EIS.
On this basis I Object.

For example: SEARs 13. Stormwater and Wastewater
I do not believe that the Overland Flow Report meets the requirements of the SEARs to "Provide an Integrated Water Management Plan for the development that avoids adverse impacts on any downstream properties".

Firstly, Considering Martens only did a 'general walkover' on 22.9.2021, 22.11.2021 and 30.11.2021 which were days that Catherine Field had zero to light rainfall I do not believe that the site has been thoroughly examined during all weather conditions. Perhaps if they attended the site during heavy rainfalls in either December 2021, February 2022, March 2022 and most recently in July their data would be more accurate.

Martens Preliminary Overland Flow Assessment" page 8. "MA has iteratively designed the bus parking accessway, south western carpark, diversion pipes and swale along the southern boundary of the site to capture and redivert the upstream overland flows to Catherine Fields Road." With the capturing and rediverting of the overland flow to Catherine Fields road and the proposed installation of 525mm diameter diversions pipes, I believe this will cause major flooding to any neighbours downstream as the water will flow much faster. This will prevent flooding on the site of the school but Martens have offered no solution to "avoid adverse impacts on any downstream properties" as outlined in SEARs requirements, if anything, their plans will increase impacts on downstream properties.

I believe this report does not accurately represent 'completeness, accuracy, quality and clarity' of the information in the EIS.


On this basis, I Object


Kind Regards


Eamonn Coogan
Hannora Normoyle
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
To whom it may concern,
My name is Hannora Normoyle and I live with my husband Eamonn and 3 kids in Catherine Field on Catherine Field Road not too far up from the proposed Minarah College site.
I have serious concerns about how any institution on Catherine Field Road would benefit the Catherine Field community. We purchased a rural property for our home because we enjoy the usual peace, space and quiet that it brings. Putting a 2000 person school and their subsequent means of transport smack bang on the busiest, unsealed and unsafe road in our suburb beggars belief that anyone would think this is a good idea. The proposed hours of operation leave little time for our community to rest so I object!
Our twin boys go to Barramurra Public School and you could not pay me to live near any school these days especially having witnessed and experienced the lack of planning and consideration for arriving and departing the school grounds. It’s deadly. Please don’t put the Catherine Field residents or possible students in the same position. The thought of a possible increase in fatalities means I object.
From my point of view our roads need massive upgrading already with the traffic that passes through already especially with the recent surrounding new estates using Catherine Field as a thoroughfare more and more. We don’t even have footpaths to walk our families and pets safely! Tragically we only recently had a fatality on a Sunday evening on Springfield Road – a road that joins Catherine Field Road close by and it is unfortunately not the first. This happened on a weekend I can only imagine the daily carnage or near miss’s skyrocket if this school goes ahead.
Right now there is a major wet event happening so lots of rain is about and as the water runs down the hill to where we live so there is often a fear of floods like we have had experienced due to inadequate drainage and guttering. I won’t even begin on the movement of rocks, road and soil that we the resident are constantly repairing after a downpour at the front of our property on the road. Increased traffic would only make this situation worse, therefore I object.
I rely on my children’s grandparents for drop off and pickup of my kids this will be impacted by travelling through a hectic and dangerous school zone and would be a constant worry for everyone’s safety.
Not only does it feel that we did not receive adequate notification of this idea which is unnerving, but it’s disheartening to know that as our area cries out for more and more state school’s especially high schools that this will be the option for our rural suburb?!
I object on all of the grounds others in our community object on too – the sewer, the operating hours, the traffic, the extra humans, the unsafeness of the whole idea, the unsuitability for the Catherine Field community – the whole silly idea of putting that massive an institution in Catherine Field. Surely $93million dollars could be spent somewhere more suitable for all concerned?! I do hope common sense and not bank cheques prevail otherwise it will be a very sad time in our Catherine Field community.
Yours sincerely
Hannora.
Vic Vella
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
I Strongly oppose the project,
I have attached 4 letters within PDF.

This project will be a disaster to the area, There is no infrastructure to support a construction that is proposed, It will impact the environment from the standpoint of great volumes of water flooding out near by dwellings, Many local birds like frogmouths, rosellas, bar shouldered doves, finches like red brows & double bars will have a reduced habitat.
Quite simply the project does NOT fit the rural setting of the area, Catherine field rd cannot handle the traffic now led alone the influx of traffic as a result of the school.
Please DO NOT CONSIDER approving this school.
Please read attached
Regards Vic
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Our roads cannot hold any more additional traffic. It is already congested with traffic coming from camden valley way cutting across to Oran Park. Also, our roads our poorly maintained, already creating dangerous potholes with only the amount of traffic using them at current time. How much more to include the traffic that will be created by this project if it gets done. We chose to live in Catherine Field because of its rural nature, that it is a community which is only residential, quite neighbourhood. We wish to keep in this way. Life is already chaotic outside the area ie oran park, gledswood hills, gregory hills due to so many developments on houses and schools. I hope we can keep it this way for a very good while.

I also agree that the infrastructure of Catherine Field cannot support any development of this capacity.
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
I object to this being build in my street. see attached.
Attachments
Sogna Vozzo
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
The roads can’t cope with this amount of traffic…Also it’s a rural area …It get flood very quickly..No drain water etc
regards
Name Withheld
Support
HARRINGTON PARK , New South Wales
Message
The new school would be a positive addition to Catherine Field and the broader Western Sydney community as The population in the school’s catchment area is forecast to grow rapidly and the proposed new schools are
urgently needed to meet the demand.
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
CATHERINE FIELD , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Moniza Khan
Support
BOW BOWING , New South Wales
Message
We are looking to buy a house in this area therefore addition of an Islamic faith based school will help my kids a lot.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-30759158
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Educational establishments
Local Government Areas
Camden

Contact Planner

Name
Rebecca Sommer