Primary school site opposed

A Ministry of Education decision to site a new primary school in Woodcocks Road in Warkworth is being challenged by One Mahurangi.

Co-chair Dave Stott told a Warkworth Liaison Group meeting last week that the idea of building a primary school on a busy road, next to a one-way bridge, was nonsensical. However, his real concern was the distance students would have to travel.

“Warkworth Primary will be expanded to accommodate the growth that will result from the Stubbs Farm development,” he said.

“There’s expected to be 2000 to 2500 new homes on the north-eastern side of Warkworth so this would be the logical place to put the school.”

One Mahurangi has identified a suitable site and is writing “a strongly worded letter” to the Minister of Education and the Ministry’s chief executive, which it hopes will be co-signed by local MPs Chris Penk and Marja Lubeck.

Stott said of the three ministry planners who had identified the Woodcocks Road site, none had visited Warkworth. “We’re inviting the Education Minister to Warkworth to properly understand our needs.”