THE NSW Department of Education has selected a parcel of land for the future expansion of Eglinton Public School.
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With the village due to expand further with a new subdivision to the west, there have been calls for the education department to acquire some of that land to grow a school that's already bursting at the seams.
For years, the education department said it didn't require more land, but after further investigation reconsidered and entered into negotiations in late 2018.
A new report, to go before Bathurst Regional Council next week, says the education department has given "written advice" to the landowner that it will purchase part of the land that was offered.
Under the development control plan (DCP), lot 2201 and 2202 have been reserved for school purposes.
The education department has now indicted it wants to purchase lot 2201 only, a parcel of land that's 5530 square metres and positioned directly behind the existing school.
Schools Infrastructure NSW acting executive director of strategic planning, Martin Karm, made it clear in a letter to HyNash Constructions that it has no interest in the other lot.
"We do wish to proceed with the acquisition of Lot 2201 for the purpose of the expansion of the educational facilities at Eglinton Public School, and trust that you are agreeable to this sale given the clarification we have provided," he said.
As lot 2202 won't be used in a future expansion of Eglinton Public School, a request has been made to council to amend the DCP to remove the reservation for school purposes for this lot so it can be developed as residential land.
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The director for Environmental Planning and Building Services recommends the request be approved.
He noted that the only other suitable land use for this lot would be as open space, requiring council to purchase the land.
Council has not budgeted for this and the director, Neil Southorn, said that it is already planning "considerable new open space on the adjacent land", which is the former 2BS site, that will sufficiently cater to Eglinton's needs.
Should councillors vote in line with the recommendation, lot 2202 is expected to be subdivided to create at least six residential lots.
If approved, the amendment will then be placed on public exhibition following the meeting in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, as well as council's Community Participation Plan.