THE start of the new school year also marks a new beginning for Damla College, after securing new premises in time for the 2010 school year.
The four-year-old independent school, which caters for kindergarten to Year 10 students, launched its new facility located at the former Ferndale Primary School site at Karri Way.
It had earlier faced an uncertain future with its previous lease arrangements due to expire at the end of 2009.
The college had been leasing the former Kinlock PS site nearby, following the amalgamation of Kinlock, Ferndale and Lynwood primary schools in 2008.
Kinlock and Ferndale PS sites had been earmarked for housing by the Department of Housing.
But local MPs – Riverton MLA Mike Nahan and Swan MHR Steve Irons – intervened to help secure the college a permanent base at Ferndale.
The Government sold the site to the college and Mr Irons said the decision would benefit the local community.
“I am pleased Damla will be able to continue its good work in the local area. This is a good decision for students, parents and the whole community,” Mr Irons said.
Dr Nahan facilitated the process of the college’s purchase of the Ferndale PS site from the State Government and described the outcome as the “perfect” use of the existing facilities.
“Although the majority of the land will be utilised by Damla College, a small portion of it, together with the land from the old Kinlock PS site, will be developed to help ease the strong demand for public housing in this area,” Dr Nahan said.
Local residents wanted to keep the site as a school and were opposed to it being knocked down and redeveloped as housing.