Port Macquarie-Hastings Council says it has received a development application to construct a new state-of-the-art building at Wauchope Public School. The new development includes the proposed removal of an existing heritage school building.

A council spokesman said that as per standard operating policy, Council assessment staff have consulted a heritage architect to assist in the determination of the application and have requested further justification for the removal of the building, including information regarding possible alternatives such as relocation and retention of the old building.

“Council will continue to work with the applicant to obtain the best possible outcome for the school and the local community considering the need to preserve our rich local heritage,” said Acting Director Dan Croft.

Wauchope District Historical Society says it’s pleased that the council is not going to rubber-stamp the current extension plans for Wauchope Public School.

“Contrary to the notice in the paper, the proposal is really not ‘to replace the existing demountables with permanent classrooms’, but for the new building to replace the century-old original school on that site,” said Jean Hegarty from the Society.

“This has always been well maintained, is representative of that era in school buildings, and has lots of useful years left in it. Demolition of the original building will destroy a significant part of Wauchope’s local heritage, leaving children to be accommodated in demountables during the ‘major capital works upgrade’.

“There is ample space to site the new building elsewhere on the site. Children could stay in their current classrooms while construction is in progress and that construction would be largely quarantined from existing classrooms,” said Ms Hegarty.

She added that traffic problems along Waugh Street will be ameliorated if the new building was sited on Mackay Street. 

“The Department’s architects might even choose to have a dedicated bus set down area there. Schools always need more space; the old building could be used for all sorts of enrichment activities and/or adult/community education,” she added.

In June, Oxley member Melinda Pavey announced that Wauchope Public School would receive a major upgrade with funding provided through this year’s NSW Government Budget.

The upgrade would expand the school to provide new permanent teaching spaces for the school’s 750 students and staff.

School principal Cameron Osborne said it was an incredibly exciting time for the Wauchope Public School community.

“It looks like it will be a 13-classroom architecturally-designed block with indoor and outdoor learning spaces, practical activity rooms, withdrawal rooms for computers and reading and shared learning areas,” he said.

It would replace a six-classroom block, with the removal of seven demountable classrooms.

One parent has commented that while the current exterior of the building looks charming and quaint, the classrooms are stinking hot in summer and freezing cold in winter and are no longer functional work spaces.