Fairfield, Australia -- More than 170 Horsley Park residents lodged submissions with Fairfield Council over the third application to build an Assyrian school in the rural suburb.

The applicants withdrew the development application (DA) in March 2006 and September 2007.

When it went before the council's Independent Hearing and Assessment Panel last week, 16 people spoke on the plan.

Linda Nicastri, owner of The Horsley Patch, said traffic was her biggest concern.

"As a Horsley Park business owner, of course I would love to see more people coming to the village, but the narrow roads can't handle having 600 students in two peak periods a day," she said. "There will be accidents as the road degrades."

Residents also expressed concerns about sewage as Horsley Park was not sewered and residents have to have enough space for "biocycle sewage" hoses.

The panel's report said independent traffic studies commissioned by the applicant and the council's engineers showed the roads would cope with the estimated 31per cent increase in traffic that the school would generate.

It said the school planned to build a sewage treatment plant and its building designs would reflect the area's country-town feel with small, clustered buildings.

Ms Nicastri said she had been involved in discussions when earlier applications were lodged and residents still did not know why Horsley Park, with its minimal infrastructure and transport, was chosen.

"Why wouldn't they want to build out near Wallgrove Road where there are lots of new roads and easy access?" she said.

John Haskal, principal of St Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School in Greenfield Park, and spokesman for the project, was unable to comment before the Champion went to press due to the visit of the head of the Assyrian church to Australia this week.

The panel's report recommended the school application be approved.

The recommendation will go to the a full council meeting on December 16.

By Jenna Daroczy
http://fairfield.yourguide.com.au