DEANMORE Primary School principal Jeanette Metcalf says she is “delighted” to have construction under way for the school’s redevelopment.
Last Friday marked the official beginning of works at the Karrinyup school, which Ms Metcalf described as “long-awaited.”
“We returned to the school this year to the sound of men at work, and it’s great to think our new school will become a reality by the end of the year,” she said.
“It’s all about our kids, and the new buildings will further contribute to a wonderful learning experience for the children.”
The school, which will be built adjacent to the existing facilities, came under fire from local residents after original plans called for a car park to be built over more than 30 mature trees.
Four native tuart trees were destroyed to make way for the building under the revised plans.
Ms Metcalf declined to comment on the trees, saying the issue was “behind us now” and that opposing residents were entitled to their view.
Scarborough MLA Liza Harvey, who attended last week’s sod-turning ceremony, said the approved plans were “a significant improvement from those originally drawn.”
“While I would have liked to have seen all the trees incorporated into the plan, it was just not possible to produce a safe, functional outcome for the school with these included,” she said.
Julie Killen, president of the Deanmore Primary Residents Action Group, said she was disappointed that the discarded tuart trees could not be retained at the site.
“Our thoughts haven’t changed a lot – we feel there has been a total inflexibility in the plan that was applied,” she said.
“There’s no question the school needed to be rebuilt, but we didn’t think those trees had to go.”
The works are due to be completed for the start of term one in 2011.