A plan to transform the Ballarat Clarendon College (BCC) Sturt Street campus could soon come to fruition.
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A master plan proposes the demolition of three houses on Ajax and Murray streets, and the relocation of another, to allow the installation of new sports surfaces.
The school’s current outdoor hard sports surfaces which face onto Sturt Street will be demolished, as will part of the existing girls boarding house.
A new boarding house will be built near Ajax Street, while the multi-purpose synthetic grass surface including cricket nets will be placed next to the main oval.
City of Ballarat council will consider BCC’s plan at an ordinary meeting on May 2.
Part of the application put to council is discontinuing part of Ajax and Murray streets, and removal of the pedestrian easement through the centre of the Sturt Street campus.
The pedestrian walkway, between Sturt Street and Ajax Street, provides 24-hour public access.
In the master plan, BCC notes it “now considers the risk associated with public access through a school campus to be a serious concern and a potential liability issue”.
Council officers recommended the school’s application proceed, with the necessary planning scheme amendment and planning permit application put on exhibition.
When the planning application was submitted to City of Ballarat in July last year, the project was expected to cost $2.5 million.
Ballarat Clarendon College’s principal David Shephard said the school had been working on the campus master plan for a number of years.
He said fulfillment would mean the development of both the BCC and the wider community.
“Health and education are very significant areas of Ballarat’s community, we believe we offer an important service to the wider Ballarat community,” Mr Shephard said. “To provide a 21st century curriculum for the school, it’s necessary for us to make these changes.”
The chapel would also be demolished, with a new one built elsewhere to replace what the master plan calls the “poor-quality building from its current awkward position” on Sturt Street.
About 50 per cent of the school zoned as special use, which provides for the use of private education, while the remaining 50 per cent is general residential. Under the new plan the school is hoping to make the entire property special use.
