AN Epping Muslim school is battling complaints from neighbours in its bid to expand, while Whittlesea council is demanding the school contribute to a new road.
Al Siraat College is seeking to expand from its three-hectare property in Harvest Home Road onto 1.2 hectares of adjoining land also owned by the school’s owners, Barakah Properties.
Neighbours have lodged objections including detrimental impact on neighbourhood character, loss of public space, no proven need for a school of that size, and the claim that the school might not integrate with the local community.
The council has dismissed most objections, saying the school had strong potential to integrate with the local community, enrolments were projected to increase, there was plenty of open space and that neighbourhood character for the area had not yet been established.
However, it is supporting concerns that the school’s single roadfront will cause traffic problems, and is requesting the school donate land to help create another 20-metre road on its western boundary to access parking areas.
The council and school had mediation about the council’s request before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal this month.
Presently at 232 students, the K–12 school’s extension of land, to its east and its west, would give it room for 740 children, and would provide land for sporting and recreation facilities.
Al Siraat College’s principal, Fazeel Arain, said the school was seeking advice from planning experts about whether a road on the west flank was necessary.
“If it is, we will work with the council and with neighbours to get the best outcome,” he said.
Neighbours had also objected to “poor amenity” of the school, a complaint Mr Arain said was due to the fledgling school’s mostly portable buildings.
He said the portables were temporary and would be replaced with permanent buildings in the long term.
