‘Serious risk’: Outrage over new school

Opponents of a proposed school in outer Melbourne say the development threatens hundreds of kangaroos and creates a serious bushfire risk.

Thousands of people have put their names to a petition against a new school at Lysterfield Lake, about 30km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD.

“This site is in a green wedge A zone in an extreme risk bushfire area and serves as a haven for our beloved kangaroos and other endangered species,” petition writer Karen Cavanagh said.

The state government has formalised its support, on paper, to protecting these “green wedges”, sections of natural land on the outskirts of the capital city.

“The proposed school site happens to be a significant corridor for kangaroos that have used it for over half a century or more. It’s clear that co-location of children and kangaroos would pose serious risks to both parties,” the petition reads.

The proposed development would be a non-government year 3e to 12 all boys school, which PARED Victoria officially lodged applications for in December.

PARED Victoria is a charity that received two-thirds of its $6.7m of revenue from government last year and operates the nearby pre-prep to year 9 Harkaway Hills College.

The proposed Lysterfield Lake College development would be barely 1.5km away across fields and an equestrian centre from its sister school, but plans are for it to border Lysterfield Park, an expansive area with kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, echidnas, wombats and platypuses.

Conservationists and wildlife volunteers fear the development will mean kangaroos having to dodge cars.

“We understand the need for educational institutions but surely there must be alternative locations that won’t disrupt our precious ecosystem or put lives at risk due to bushfires,” Ms Cavanagh writes in the petition.

“We urge the relevant authorities to reconsider this planning permit application in light of its potential environmental impact.”

A spokesman for Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny said a decision on the application was expected shortly.

Students enrolled at Lysterfield go to school on the Harkaway campus, but PARED Victoria wants the new campus for an expansion.

PARED Victoria was not immediately available to comment on Friday, which is a public holiday in Victoria.

However, in a statement to the ABC, the organisation said it would work with Parks Victoria, Lysterfield Lake park rangers and Casey council by taking students into the park for practical learning.

“Further, we will co-operate with adjacent landowners in the protection of both private property and public land from fire, pest plants and animals and other hazards and in the promotion of conservation values,” a school spokesperson said.

The planning documents show various environmentally leaning features. A section of the outdoor area will be for ecological studies, earthworks will be minimal and less than 2.5m deep, and wetlands on one edge of the school will be extended.

The petition was launched in January and has 4000 signatures to date.