Planning for Growth - 10 years of Masterplanning
Orange Grove has been slated for redevelopment for more than a decade, and now it's time to vote on the best one. Two masterplans were developed between 2012 and 2015 by the P&C, stakeholders and authorities in an open and consultative process. Thereafter all masterplanning was undertaken in secret and without the knowledge of the community. Here are the different versions.
2012
Community-led masterplan
In 2012, an OGPS parent group comprising architects, town planners and development professions led a community consultation to determine the desired future state of an upgraded OGPS campus. The detailed masterplan and background considerations were presented to the P&C and community on 8 August for discussion.
The proposal planned to cater to a projected studentpopulation of 496 in 2018, more than double its then population of 236. It also addressed various parking, access and traffic issues.
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An audit of the existing buildings identified Blocks D in a particular bad condition and with significant lack of amenity.
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The masterplan retained and valued the school's green space with its large trees for their shade, and proposed development in the under-utilised areas along Balmain Rd on the eastern side of the school. grounds.
Principles
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Retain and improve grass area
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Potentially redevelop space along Balmain Rd, due to its under-utilised status and suitability for new buildings including a hall
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Play equipment area highly valued and recently improved
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Big trees are highly valued as shade
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Improve all sanitary facilities
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Improve areas under shade
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Improve storage
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Question the value of Block due to poor condition (rising damp, unsafe utilities, ageing windows)
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Explore future of preschool due to known drainage and flooding problems
2015
By OGPS P&C Taskforce, endorsed by the Government Architect
By 2015, discussion had further progressed. The masterplanning process was now led by a taskforce convened by the Department of Education, and consisting of P&C, parents with professional background in planning, and school representatives, community and the Government Architect's office.
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Building on 2012 discussions, the school community again confirmed the value of the extensive green space and large mature trees. The masterplan identified that these unique characteristics of OGPS.
Future buildings were proposed along Balmain Road. The Preschool, which is subjected to flooding, was proposed to be relocated to Emmerick Street.
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The masterplan had five core design principles:
Principles
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Principle 1: Contemporary learning environments
High Quality learning environments through future focussed learning incorporating:
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Warm caring and personalised spaces.
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Technology, Flexibliity, Variety of learning spaces. Space, lighting, acoustics, colours, shapes and textures are key design elements
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Principle 2: Sustainability
lmprove and demonstrate sustainability by:
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Minimising energy and water use
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Addressing aircraft noise
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Maximising natural light
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Home bases include sustainable design practices to model methods for school community (water, solar)
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Principle 3: A green site
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Maximise outdoor / indoor learning.
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Maximise green (trees, open space etc)
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Maintain existing outdoor space for school and community use by locating new buildings along Balmain Rd.
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Clearly defined courtyard spaces.
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Consider outdoor spaces on upper level spaces to enable green space to be retained.
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Principle 4: Being a good neighbour
Build on Community ethos and community connectedness and identity by:
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Retaining connections with Saturday Markets, Pre-school, OSHC and encourage community use of the site.
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Shared space (landscape & buildings) for community use. Space for outsider users that is easily maintained (hard surface ideal). Maintain existing No. of parking spaces but more creatively. Respect character and amenity of suburban context.
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Principle 5: Student connectedness to the school
Positive and welcoming campus through:
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Clear entry and arrival (school & community identity)
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Pride in the school
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Retain high quality historic / character building and landscapes.
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New design to consolidate identity at entry. Articulate entry / identity for school, OHSC, Preschool & Markets and other community use.
December 2018
By external consultants for SINSW
Masterplan Option Studies - Summary of Options
By 2018, the population projections for OGPS had been realised.
In October 2018, School Infrastructure NSW (SINSW) commissioned studies to assess the development options best suited for growth of OGPS.
This masterplan made reference to the 2015 P&C and Government Architect taskforce masterplan: "A concept masterplan was prepared by Public Works in 2015 to upgrade the school to 1000 students. This masterplan should be revisited now that 28 and 35 core standards are available."
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By this stage, the school had 17 permanent learning spaces (including a pre- school classroom) and three demountable classrooms.
BRIEF
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Redevelop school to provide 49 permanent learning spaces (including four support classes and one preschool class).
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Appropriately sized core facilities (35 core) in two stages.
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including 4 support classes and 1 preschool class)
All three options
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satisfy the briefed requirements to allow the growth of Orange Grove Public School to 825 Students by 2031 (Stage 1) and to 1000 Students in Stage 2
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retain the open green space and its the mature trees in the north-western corner of the site and
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provide new classroom buildings along Balmain Road
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propose the demolition of Building D
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provide a basement carpark entry at the lowest point of the site from Balmain Road
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locate the Preschool adjacent to the green space with easy access from Emmerick Street.
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satisfy the briefed requirements to allow the growth of Orange Grove Public School to 825 Students by 2031 (Stage 1) and to 1000 Students in Stage 2
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retain the mature trees on the green space in the north-western corner of the site and locate
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provide new classroom buildings along Balmain Road
the Preschool adjacent to the green space with easy access from Emmerick Street.
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propose the demolition of Building D
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provide a basement carpark entry at the lowest point of the site from Balmain Road.
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Masterplan Option 1 (preferred):
a low-impact alternative
Option 1 was selected as the preferred Option by SINSW.
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It proposes the Hall central to the new development and a remote stage 2 classroom building adjacent to the preschool.
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It provides a compact new classroom building along Balmain Road with a centrally located Hall which connects the new with the old classroom buildings.
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The new library in the refurbished building B provides a central meeting point for all students and is highly visible from the street.
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All supporting spaces are connected by a continuously covered walkway that acts like a “School Street”.
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A large uninterrupted space is available for the Weekend Markets which can be ongoing during construction.
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Strengths are:
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Most original built fabric retained
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3 storey building minimises building footprint and maximises green and other open space
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Hall, COLA, Canteen and Library centrally located on ground floor.
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Weaknesses are:
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Noise from hall might disrupt neighbouring homebases.
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Masterplan Option 2
Option 2 is a high impact strategy to retain building A only. The removal of Building B creates a large central assembly court which opens up to the greenspace on the western end of the site. The Hall is located in the same remote location as Option 3 and the stage 2 classroom building is a 1 storey extension to the administration building along Perry Street.”
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Strengths are:
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Siting of new building creates a large central Assembly Court.
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Strong connection between Hall, COLA and Games Courts.
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Weaknesses are:
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Least original built fabric retained.
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Space allocated to the local market would be less visible from the street.
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Hall and Canteen are separated from main Homebase block.
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Building footprint is increased as new buildings are only 1-2 storey high.
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No Homebases near Pre-school.
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Masterplan Option 3
Option 3 proposes a remote Hall, adjacent to the new preschool and a stage 2 classroom building central to the site.
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Strengths are
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Stage 2 building is completely independent from Stage 1, minimising disruption of an occupied Stage 1 during construction.
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Possible connection between Stage 2 building the upper level of existing Building A.
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Perry Street frontage is primarily kept clear of any new structure and thus provides best visibility for weekend markets.
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Smallest building footprint.
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Weaknesses are:
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Less original built fabric retained.
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Hall and Canteen are separated from main Homebase block.
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No Homebases near Pre-school.
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Nov 2019 Footprint
For SINSW
Indicative Footprint Options 1(A) + (B)
In Nov 2019 Infrastructure commissioned a Tree Location Plan for "New Development" in the eastern portion of the green open space. A black outline shows the indicative footprint. Floorplans for these masterplan versions have not been released.
Legend - green dashed areas
"recommended development exclusion zone - area to be isolated from construction activities to retain and protect all Med High and High Significance Trees on site"
Jan 2020 Masterplan Studies
For SINSW
Indicative Footprint
GeoEnviro Consultancy Pty Ltd report of Geotechnical and salinity Investigation in January noted in its introduction:
‘We understand the proposed school upgrades will include alterations and additions to some of the existing school buildings and possible construction of a new building towards the western portion of the site. The new school building will likely be of similar height to the existing buildings of about 2 to 3 levels high.
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A report by Aurecon included the following plan indicating the location of new buildings in January 2020.
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Floorplans for this masterplan version have not been released.
March 2020 Masterplan
By external consultants for SINSW
Masterplan
The 2020 masterplan proposes a large new 4-storey building along Perry Street, in the place of the library on a significantly extended footprint, and along the eastern portion of the green open space.
The high-impact design was largely driven or justified by a so-called 'Heritage Curtilage' (building exclusion zone) at the time, which was based on a flawed "heritage" report. It should be noted that this curtilage is different from the one of the current masterplan.
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A submission in regard to false heritage claims was recently lodged by heritage professionals with the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the Delivery of NSW School Infrastructure. A letter outlining the errors in the report was sent to the Minister of Education and other officials.
March 2020 Option 1
Option 1
A four storey building facade along Perry Street and the green open space, merging into a lower-height building towards Rayner Street.
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March 2020 Option 2
Option 2
A stepped four storey building facade along Perry Street and the green open space, merging into a lower-height building towards Rayner Street.
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Lodged as 'Preferred Masterplan Option 4' with Inner West Council for Pre-DA and played down as 'Early Site Plan' by Infrastructure
In June 2022, members of the school community discovered that a Pre-DA for Orange Grove Public School lodged with Inner West Council and that a Pre-DA meeting had been held on 01 May 2022. The documents were labelled 'Preferred Masterplan Version 4', and were well advanced plans that proposed a marked difference to the masterplan made in 2018. The plans quickly circulated in the school community.
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The community learned that Schools Infrastructure (SINSW), a section of the Department of Education, was proposing major new infrastructure in the green open space at the west end of the school and obliterating it in the process. This caused considerable disquiet amongst part of the school community resulting in a protest outside the school on 1 September.
Attempts by SINSW and OGPS school adminstration to play down the well advanced masterplan as 'Early Site Plan' failed.
In a rushed attempt to tick the community engagement box, SINSW ran a brief survey with meaningless questions. The survey closed before the due date and before the majority of the OGPS community had heard about it. This was followed by a community information session in August, in which Infrastructure demonstrated that they have no genuine interest in community engagement. The information cemented the current Masterplan proposal and left the impression that community engagement would be limited to input of low relevance, which could include decisions about the colour of toilet blocks or room allocations.
The Heritage Excuse
Building D was the first major building at the school, built c1893. It was a fine building. However it was substantially demolished and remodelled after a fire of 1938. Yet, School Infrastructure now attributes Building D with heritage value and an extensive curtilage (construction exclusion zone) around it to support its justification for locating new buildings onto the open green space and against development along Balmain Road.
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The current proposal is generated by an unjustified attribution of heritage significance to Building D. It has neither local nor State heritage listing and can be demolished without consent under current legislation.
Demolition Plan - 12 trees to be removed!
THE DISAPPEARING TREES OF OGPS
The extent of demolition on site comprises the removal of 12 mature existing trees on the west side of the site are shown in red (tree number 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35, 54, 56, 57, 61, 62 in Arborist report). This contravenes Infrastructure's own Nov 2019 tree assessment, which identified the trees earmarked for as high and medium value trees and marked them as "development exclusion zones".
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Inner West Council's Urban Forrest Referral report did not support the removal of the affected trees and the masterplan proposal.
Since then, a number of significant trees have been removed from the area of the proposed future building K, the school hall:
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In week 11-15 Jul 2022 an 18m diameter shade tree, of which the trunk was claimed to sit directly over the crack in a sewer line. A contractor for Sydney Water failed to demonstrate that it attempted to re-line the sewer in order to preserve the tree.
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On 26 June 2022, the well-known habitat tree of the Tawny Frogmouth was removed by 'Trees Company' without notice to the school community or the school's sustainability coordinator. A comprehensive arborist report conducted by SI a few months prior did not advocate for the removal of the tree. This felling remains unaccounted for (see image left). All relevant documentation was provided by SINSW.
An ill-considered response that ignores the P&C community survey outcomes and proposes a large rural-style hall shed in the Greenspace
In December 2022, the P&C conducted a community survey. The dominant theme of responses and comments is to preserve the green space.
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During the April 2023 Elections, Labor made the election promise that "The new State Labor Government has agreed to throw out the previous plans that would have destroyed all the green space. The Department of Education will now be required to go back to and properly consult and engage with the school community on new plans that parents and residents support.”
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Unfortunately no such review or consultation has taken place and the community is still waiting for the new NSW Government to fulfil its election promise.
Instead, the community was angered to find SINSW present a modified version of the just rejected masterplan, perceived as merely moving buildings about on a plan and continuing to cover a large area of the current green space with buildings.
In addition, the proposal and brochures were found to contain questionable statements in regard to the heritage and naming of OGPS, visualisation that distracted from the actual impact of the proposal (such as non-distinct perspectives with the proposed school hall in the distance and diagrams with sealed concrete area shown in green) and a reported additional sealed area of only 200m2. The actual additional sealed area of the proposal is in the order of 1,500m2, which would result in a total sealed site area of about 66%. This is more than, for example, the maximum site coverage of 60% for a residential block under Inner West Council regulations.
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Save OG mapped out the proposed school hall in the valued western Greenspace and showed it to community groups on market days. The type of hall proposed is a large enclosed rural shed-type building, used recently for a school in regional Murrembateman! It is appalling that such an inappropriate building typology is being considered for an inner city school in a dense urban context. This is an indication of both under-funding and lack of design judgement.
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The masterplan also proposed an entrance along the high-volume traffic Balmain Rd side in order to revive the unpopular eastern area. This was opposed to by the school community due to the involved risks and perceived lack of usefulness of the area in general.
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SEPTEMBER 2023
By OGPS P&C TASKFORCE
Endorsed by P&C on 04 Sept 2023 meeting
A solution by the Community
In August 2023, the P&C together with community groups worked on an alternative masterplan proposal to better reflect community values and aspirations.
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The 2023 P&C endorsed Masterplan proposes an option that retains the high value open Greenspace on western side of the school grounds in its entirety and places all buildings on already sealed and lower value areas along the northern and eastern areas of the school.
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The Greenspace of the school grounds, comprising all allotments acquired by the school past 1898, has since been included in the current proposed extension of the Austenham Estate Heritage Conservation Area by Inner West Council.
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In order to find an agreement between the community, who prefers to see Building D replaced with modern school facilities, and School Infrastructure NSW (SI), the 2023 endorsed P&C masterplan integrates Building D and retains views of Building D from Balmain Road as desired by SI.
The masterplan proposal embraces the objectives of Better Placed - Design Guide for Schools, established by the NSW Government Architect.
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The masterplan aims to yield a built form that is responsive to the school’s location in a constrained inner-city location and is commensurate with school buildings as reflections of civic pride, through high-quality architectural and urban character.
Overview:
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Demolition of the library, COLA, toilet blocks and post 1938 additions to Building D and post 1917 additions at the entrance of Building B.
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30 (27-33) Homebases
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School Hall (bespoke, glazed) in the location fo the current Library, opening out to three sides and Greenspace, with stage and indoor playing field with high void space and 2-storey 'spine' containing Oosh, Canteen, Special Programs Rooms, Amenities and Gallery overlooking hall for informal learning and gathering; School Hall and Oosh require direct access off the main street to enable easy access and passive surveillance.
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Two-storey Administration Building (bespoke) within the pre-1938 Building A footprint containing Clerical on the ground floor and Administration and Staff facilities on the second floor with amenities on both levels.
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Two-storey Classrom Building (bespoke) in north-eastern (Balmain Rd) corner adjacent to Administration, with a capacity for six Homebases per floor, with Learning Commons and Multi-Purpose Rooms.
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Two-storey Classrom Building (bespoke) in north-eastern (Balmain Rd) corner adjacent to Administration, with a capacity for six Homebases per floor, with Learning Commons and Multi-Purpose Rooms
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Building B adapted to Library uses. Removal of unsympathetic additions and opening-up of Library with glazed entrance. Incorporation of an Art and Maker Space.
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The disparate buildings and spaces of the school are proposed to be unified by a common architectural language for all new buildings and changes to exisiting buildings. A good example is Fort Street PS (see images). Connecting covered walkways link the various buidings into a coherent campus.​
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The main student access remains off Perry Street, with entry points shifted to suit the masterplan's main building entrance points.
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Waste services and bin storage is proposed away from the main entrance frontage of the upgraded school and located in the carparking area.
Unless the OGPS community is united in pushing for the best solution, the school risks being allocated the most expedient solution. This may not achieve an ideal future state for the site. As a community member, you can still help drive the best outcome by doing the following:
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Inform yourself – read the options in detail on this website, and understand exactly what each option represents for the school.
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Have your say – visit our Take Action page for access to petitions, flyers, protest letters and other resources
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Spread the word – make sure to get others to have their say, by sharing information about this website and its many resources.