Rocky River Public School REF

The NSW Department of Education was the proponent for the construction of a new administration and learning building at Rocky River Public School to replace the condemned Block A. The REF assessed the environmental impacts of the proposed works in accordance with Part 5 of the EP&A Act and the Division 5.1 Guidelines.

The school site covered 1.742 hectares and was located within the Rocky River Goldmining Precinct Heritage Conservation Area. Two parcels of Crown Land, formerly used as gold mining water races, intersected the site, although no visible archaeological features remained. The northern portion of the site was mapped as bush fire prone land, but the proposed building footprint was located outside this area.

The proposal involved constructing a single storey V shaped building comprising administration facilities, learning spaces, a canteen, amenities, and associated outdoor areas. The design avoided excavation within Crown Land and former race alignments, using fill based retaining structures to prevent disturbance. Two trees were proposed for removal, including one Eucalyptus mckieana, a vulnerable species.

Key issues considered in the REF included heritage, biodiversity, bushfire, construction impacts, and Crown Land constraints. The assessments found that the proposal would not significantly impact heritage values, threatened species, or bushfire risk. Construction impacts such as noise, dust, and traffic were temporary and manageable through standard mitigation measures.