The Steiner School application to extend their building footprint at the Abbotsford Convent has provided a complex and difficult situation.
On the one hand, a school which has been part of the Abbotsford Convent Project since its beginning in 1998, and which has been part of Abbotsford for even longer, wants to consolidate both its primary and secondary schools at the sought-after heritage listed Convent site.
On the other hand, that long fought campaign resulted in the Convent being handed back as a “gift to people of Victoria” by the state government in 2005. The interests of these people as a whole need to be considered.
The decision makers in this scenario are Heritage Victoria and the State Government. Yarra Council has been asked for an opinion on the heritage case by Heritage Victoria.
The Greens moved a motion that Council tell HV that we do not support the current proposal for 4 new classrooms and the conversion of the heritage swimming pool to a playground. This was supported by a majority of Councillors.
This proposal was arrived at by weighing up the needs of the school to expand on the Convent site against the longer term need to protect the heritage integrity of this very significant site for present and future generations.
This week’s Council meeting heard impassioned and articulate presentations from students, parents and teachers of the Steiner School, testifying to the unique, inclusive and compassionate education provided to students. There was no doubt about their testimony, nor was there any doubt about the high levels of commitment of the parents and teachers to a quality education for their children.
However, Council was not being asked to make a decision about the value of the school or whether or not it should be at the Convent. We were asked for our position on the heritage merits of a new building on this intact 19th century former monastic complex, and we agreed we did not support it.
As Greens we are disappointed that our position has been portrayed as demonstrating a lack of support for the school. As a Council we have tried to assist the school to find alternate sites and ultimately that is a decision for the school. Our role was to provide advice on a current proposal on a site of state significance in the interests of the community as a whole.
