Seems we are getting a new school rather soon
A reader alerted me yesterday to a Notice of Requirement being filed with Auckland Council by the Ministry of Education. Reason? New primary school to be built at the eastern end of Walters Road in Takanini/Papakura.
The Public Notice out (as notification went live today):
The approximate location is here:
The link to the Notice of Requirement documents if you wish to read them: (LINK)
The submission period opened today and closes on the 13th of February 2015.
It has been noticed that the lots concerned where the school is to be built are being vacated with earth works probably due to start in the 2015/2016 construction season. That means all things go and considered we (that is Takanini and Papakura) get a new primary school that will have Year 0 to 8’s plus the potential for an early childhood centre will be ready 2017 if not 2018 (yes the next Central Elections are 2017 I know).
Now the question around the proposed High School which will be needed as the area continues to develop. The land has been marked for the new high school however, I have no idea what the Government has in mind in when they might build it. I might drop an Official Information Act request on the Education Ministry to see what information there is.
As for the wider Papakura area being developed? Well I estimate some 2000 houses on their way (500 in Addison about to start) once the Unitary Plan goes live 2016. I do hope Council and Government are up to speed with the infrastructure (physical, social and civic) by then or we are going to be rather stuck rather fast!
Talking Southern Auckland 
Would love to see what you can find out about the proposed high school – it just seems to have dropped off the plans as far as government goes. I also don’t understand why you would build another primary school just down the road. Intermediate or high school as there is no way Papakura is going to absorb all the extras from Takanini once all of these kids reach that age – but that would seem too obvious.
Can they not just accommodate more at the existing primary school that is at best a kilometer down the road? Maybe use some of that land set aside for a high school that they don’t know when they are going to build.
Good question. I will add that to the Official Information Act request I am writing up to the Ministry for Education around the proposed schools in Papakura/Takanini