Plans for a $40 million Islamic school at Oaklands Junction have been rejected by the state’s planning tribunal.
Ozzi Trade Pty Ltd took its application for a primary school at 200 Wildwood Road to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) last month after its plans were knocked back by Hume council in April.
It had proposed a school catering for up to 600 pupils and 35 staff, with seven learning-community buildings, an administrative office, a library and multi-purpose building, gymnasium, canteen, sports ovals and a grey water treatment plant on 17.1 hectares of farmland about four kilometres from the airport.
Hume council received more than 40 objections to the proposal, including one from Melbourne Airport, which was concerned about the impact on airport operations.
Council rejected the application, citing traffic, the potential over-development of the farmland site and the proximity to flight paths. The council’s decision was upheld by VCAT on November 10, with senior member Margaret Baird and member Cindy Wilson finding that while there was a need for an Islamic school in the region, the location was “unsuitable”.
The VCAT members raised concerns about the impact of the school on ongoing and future operations of Melbourne Airport.
“The proposed school would bring more than 700 children and staff into an environment that will be increasingly impacted by noise associated with the operation of Melbourne Airport,” they said.
“The airport is a critical piece of infrastructure … to be protected from incompatible land uses.
“We find that establishing a large noise-sensitive primary school and early learning centre on land … that will be increasingly exposed to significant levels of aircraft noise, is unacceptable … we find this to be a worthy proposal in an unsuitable location.”
