Court gives go-head to $15m expansion of Hunter school

Plans for a $15 million expansion of the Australian Christian College at Singleton have been given the green light, three years after the first application.

The co-educational school which caters to all grades from kindergarten to year 12 aims to build a new two-storey classroom building and add extra car parking allowing for double the current student population up to 700 pupils.

Sticking points raised in the back and forth between the school's owners, Singleton Shire Council, and the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel include parking and traffic issues.

The council's assessment report of September 2024 recommended approval, but the panel ultimately refused it saying the plan did not go far enough to tackle and minimise congestion.

The panel argued it should pay for a dedicated "channelised" right-hand turning lane, as well as provide additional space for drop-off and pick-up points.

It sought to impose a cap on the number of students permitted to attend the school, starting with a ceiling of 420 students until the Singleton bypass is complete towards the end of 2026 which is estimated to reduce southbound traffic on the New England Highway by 70 per cent in the morning, and 66 per cent in the afternoon.

It was also unsatisfied with car parking allocations, bus parking and manoeuvring areas, drop-off and pick-up, and pedestrian pathways and bicycle parking proposed to accommodate the "dramatic increase" in students.

The Christian Education Ministries Pty Ltd lodged an appeal with the court at the end of October, 2025.

In 2026 there were 420 students enrolled at the school and 41 staff, with current enrolments for 2027 of up to 450 students. The development is intended to provide facilities for a maximum capped student population of 665.

During the proceedings the school's principal, Tim Shields, who gave evidence at the Land and Environment Court hearing, said existing school buildings could cater for up to 540 students.

The parties were in dispute over whether intensification of a land use constituted "development" under the legislation, but in this instance the interim increase in student numbers did not require development consent because it was already permitted under existing approvals, Acting Commissioner Swan found.

The commissioner also found that it was not reasonable for the right-hand turning lane upgrade be imposed as a condition of consent and wholly funded by the applicant because it was required in any case, and would become a public amenity.

The existing informal conditions were operating safely, with the right-hand turn movement available having good sight distance and no crash history.

Any increase in right-hand turns from a rise in student population could not be correlated with an unacceptable traffic risk, particularly once the bypass was open, the commissioner found.