Lake Macquarie City Council’s Development and Planning Standing Committee meeting on Monday night approved the expansion, subject to conditions of consent.

There were no buildings works proposed under the application.

The independent school is located on the western side of Ironbark Road, Morisset, on a 1.743-hectare site.

It caters for students from kindergarten to year 12.

A report to council noted the school began operating at the new campus at Morisset on March 4, 2013, after relocating from a site in Cooranbong where the school was established in 1997.

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The school has a current approved student capacity of 200 students, with 20 full-time equivalent staff.

“Consent for the use of the site for a school was originally issued by the Land and Environment Court on July 20, 2011,” the report said.

“There have been several consents granted for additional buildings and students since that time.”

This year, the school has operated with one class for each year level, except for years 1-2 which are combined for most (but not all) learning activities.

“The increase in student numbers allows for the school to provide for one class for each year level from K-12 and the required flexibility to allow the school to meet increased student enrolment demands, in an area of high population growth,” the report to councillors said.

Six public submissions were received by council on the proposal. These raised issues including rural character and amenity, acoustic impacts, on-site sewerage management, waste management, and parking/traffic impacts.

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