The motion includes ensuring future planning proposals to rezone the former Shoalhaven Anglican School land on Croobyar Road go before councillors for determination. 

Councillor Mitchell Pakes will next week put the notice of motion to council’s ordinary meeting, stating a third party had “undertaken investigatory work on site, which indicates the third party wishes to alter the use of the site”. 

Cr Pakes motion also calls on the council to urge the NSW Government to purchase the land, make representations to South Coast MP Shelley Hancock extending council’s support for the purchase, support the provision of of an “additional educational facility” in southern Shoalhaven. 

“The member for South Coast Shelley Hancock launched a campaign urging the NSW Government to purchase the former SAS site in order to future proof the provision of educational services for the southern Shoalhaven,” Cr Pakes said.

“To date, over 8,000 signatures have been collected from the community on a petition supporting the purchase of the site by the NSW Government for future education services.

“It has recently been reported that The Anglican Schools Corporation is currently in confidential negotiations with a third party to purchase the site. These negotiations have been ongoing since 2017.”

The Shoalhaven was one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, Cr Pakes stated in his motion. 

“The Shoalhaven City LGA population forecast for 2018 is 103,201, and is forecasted to grow to 123,168 by 2036. A 19.35 per cent increase,” he said. 

“According to population growth predictions, the Milton, Mollymook, Mollymook Beach, Narrawallee and surrounds population forecast for 2018 is 6,769, and is forecasted to grow to 8,822 by 2036. This represents an increase of 30.32 per cent.

“Overall, 15.35 per cent of the population increase for the Shoalhaven Local Government region to 2036 is represented by growth in the Milton, Mollymook, Mollymook Beach, Narrawallee and Ulladulla townships.

“Shoalhaven City Council’s prediction shows the proposed catchment area for a new secondary education facility, the southern Shoalhaven, will see an increase of close to 4,000 people over the next 18 years.”

Cr Pakes motion will be debated in council on April 24. 

This follows a motion put to council on August 16, 2016, just before the school closed, which called on the Anglican Schools Corporation to maintain the land regularly while the school remains vacant. 

The 2016 motion also put in place a provision that the corporation provide details of its intentions to sell or change the use of the land. 

Cr Andrew Guile declared a non pecuniary interest at the time because he was a senior staffer at the corporation.