Shire of Denmark to consider Kwoorabup Nature School’s plan for shared use of historic site with Lions Club

The Shire of Denmark will review the Kwoorabup Nature School’s lease extension and development of the school site at Tuesday’s council meeting.

The school, which hopes to expand to 160 students by 2027, is asking for a 21-year lease extension and approval to develop the school site for its planned expansion.

In addition to plans for four more classrooms and infrastructure supports, such as ablutions and play spaces, the school hopes to use the area currently leased to the Lions Club, which includes the station master’s house adjacent to the school’s lease, for its kindergarten.

The club has rejected this on the grounds that their use of the space at many different times during the week for various community volunteer works is incompatible with children occupying the building for most of the week.

The Denmark Lions Club holds a month-to-month lease of their current headquarters at the station masters house, paying $1 a year since 2007 when they entered into a formal lease agreement with the Shire.

The club has requested that the station master’s house and the nearby shed, which they use for storage, be relocated if the school’s concept plan is approved with the Shire covering the cost of its relocation.

The school’s proposed expansion also raises questions about sewage, zoning, costings, heritage listing, and the future use of the reserve the school currently sits on.

While alternative sites for the school’s expansion have been considered, the school has invested close to $2 million in their current location and any new development could cost $4m to $5m.

The officer’s report advises the council to support the school’s expansion in principle but rejects the concept plan as it currently stands with the view to developing a revised concept plan with wider community consultation.

The council has so far received 22 independent submissions from members of the community.