TRINITY Anglican College at Thurgoona has snapped up 5.3 hectares of adjoining land which will significantly increase the campus size.
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The land is located to the north of existing campus in Somerset Rise with an environmental management zone separating the two sites with tentative plans to create a walkway through the natural bushland in between.
Principal Justin Beckett declined to reveal the purchase price, but admitted the opportunity was too good to pass up for the school located in Elizabeth Mitchell Drive and nearby Charles Sturt University.
“We were always interested in the possibility if there was any land that presented itself very close to our campus,” he said.
“It is definitely future-proofing.
“We’re still in discussions about any sort of timeframe (to develop the land).
“We just saw it as an opportunity to buy a really exciting piece of land in a good location for us.
“Once it is all locked down the fun can start and begin dreaming about how we might be able to use it.”
Trinity has an enrolment of 1160 students at its kindergarten to year 12 Thurgoona campus of about 10 hectares.
The relocation was recommended by the school council following an independent review.
It also had the backing of the Anglican Schools Commission.
“We think we are a school doing a lot of things well,” Mr Beckett said.
“But it’s not to be interpreted as a sign we suddenly want to become a much larger school.
“Those conversations haven’t been happening.
“It will be about how do we actually use this land to benefit our students and our community.”
Mr Beckett said a consultation process would be held to help determine the best use for the land.
Somerset Rise was formerly owned by Hudson Conway, which was the property development company founded by leading Melbourne businessmen Lloyd Williams and the late Ron Walker.
Somerset Rise's total of 42 hectares is located between Elizabeth Mitchell Drive and the Hume Freeway.
