Construction fears unfounded

The construction of the new Cowes Primary gymnasium – on 0.367ha of the school’s adjoining sanctuary – has not been without controversy, with 250 people signing a change.org petition last year, asking for the last 2ha of bushland in Cowes to be saved from the building of a gymnasium.

The school argued that the sanctuary was an important and valued part of its environment, and that every effort would be made to minimise the need for vegetation removal, but the gymnasium was badly needed and its footprint over the sanctuary would be minimal.

The Victorian Education Department, however, was required to refer the gym project to the Federal Department of Environment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

While endangered species were found to visit the site, this did not stop the gym’s construction, with a flora and fauna assessment report detailing a list of measures to avoid and reduce impacts on habitat during construction.

The gymnasium was located closer to the pool on the southern side which resulted in less impact.

The good news now is that a number of those who were initially concerned and registered their objections, have commented this week that they have been very pleasantly surprised with the end result, and stated that their fears were unfounded.

I was wrong, said one school mum who was initially against the site when it was first mooted.

“The gymnasium is a wonderful asset for our community and I am very pleased with the relatively small impact this building has in fact had on the sanctuary.”