ST CATHERINE’S School will not yet incorporate more parking into its master plan, despite Waverley Council’s calls for it to provide a minimum of 200 additional spaces.
Principal Julie Townsend said its $63 million application was now in the hands of the Department of Planning.
“Waverley Council is a stakeholder in this process and we welcome consideration of our development plans from all interested parties,’’ she said.
Dr Townsend said the school would “consider its response” once the State Government had made a decision.
“In the meantime we encourage our community to find accurate information about our plans by visiting our dedicated Research, Performing Arts and Aquatic Centre website.”
The comments to the Courier came just days after the council changed its submission to request the school provide a minimum of 200 additional car spaces.
It also wants the school to build a drop-off and pick-up area on site to reduce the traffic impact in the already congested area.
Residents claim the school has not listened to their concerns. They say finding onstreet parking is nearly impossible and parents constantly stopped in private driveways at the school’s starting and finishing times.
Despite this, the school has only allocated an additional 19 car spaces in its proposal, taking the total to 75.
Councillor Angela Burrill said there was already a traffic problem in the area.
“With any future development, we believe things should be improved, not made worse,’’ she said.
Resident Cathy Davitt was pleased the council had taken a firmer stance, but said the number of parking spaces should be doubled to at least 500.
“They should build an underground one and if they can’t do it, they should look at getting an extra campus,’’ she said.