East Perth to host new primary school
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A new public primary school set to be built at Queens Gardens car park marks the latest in a growing list of projects lined up for East Perth.
The state government revealed plans for the new public school this morning which will reportedly have capacity for up to 800 students and is set to open its doors in 2028.
The Queens Gardens car park was selected after a ‘challenging process’ as the preferred site for the school and is designed to cater for families in Northbridge, Perth and East Perth in a bid to take the pressure off Highgate Primary School.
The state government will chip in $1.4 million for technical studies on the site and said it will work together with the City of Perth on the development.
Education minister Tony Buti said it was vital the state government provided a new primary school to cater for local families and relieve enrolment pressure from Highgate Primary School.
"The Queens Gardens site in East Perth is the best location for a primary school to support families in the city for years to come and transform the area for the benefit of the community," he said.
It forms part of a broader effort to make the city more liveable and entice families, the state government has said.
City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said the state government's proposal would take up about 50 per cent of the total car park site.
"The remining 50 per cent of the site, closest to Plain Street, would be retained by the City of Perth ... This would effectively allow the city to explore the best possible opportunities and development potential for that land," he said in a statement.
"The preferred site has great merit, and as it is on City of Perth-owned land, my commitment to the ratepayers is to ensure this partnership unlocks the best possible outcome for the city.
"We will undertake a thorough due diligence process which will include a detailed business case for the proposed land transaction to ensure this deal stacks up for the city."
Property Council WA executive director Sandra Brewer said they consistently called for a plan to boost the overall residential population in Perth.
“A new school in Perth is exactly what our city needs, making Perth a more attractive place for families to live,” she said, adding it would help provide housing diversity in the city.
“This announcement will provide potential home buyers with confidence that the precinct will have a future school for their children.”
Other new developments planned for the area include a $1 billion proposal to develop an apartment complex at the former Perth Girls School site by ADC_, formerly Australian Development Capital, and Tim Roberts’ Warburton Group.
The development is proposed to include 742 dwellings, including 100 affordable housing units, across four towers of up to 36 storeys, retail and entertainment districts.
A shopping complex is also set to be included with existing Perth Girls School building proposed to be repurposed into office, hospitality, arts and sport spaces.
Meanwhile, Perth developer Hesperia has tabled plans to redevelop the East Perth racetrack into a new town square, including a 4,000 spectator capacity theatre space, racetrack renovation, hospitality precinct and high-rise apartment buildings.
The trotting association, trading as Gloucester Park Harness Racing, announced its majority support for the project in October 2022.
In March, it was revealed Hesperia had acquired land on East Perth's Lord Street- previously earmarked by Pindan for a $100 million apartment project - to be used for a veterinary specialist Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH).
At the time, Hesperia said its long-term vision was to undertake redevelopments in East Perth to create an "inner-urban lifestyle corridor" connecting into Perth's CBD.