Solution to Bass Hill High School land scandal is in Della’s hands

Late last year the Department of Education sold Bass Hill High School land that was supposedly surplus to its needs to a company called Garden View Apartments Pty Ltd which turned out to be owned by Al Amanah college. The private school has now lodged an application with Bankstown council for a 1,200 student campus on the site. The sale violates the Government’s policy that public education lands are not sold to private schools.

Dr Kaye who will be speaking at a public meeting at Bass Hill High said: “The Iemma government is busy wringing its hands saying it was duped by Al Amanah college.

“The Minister claims there is nothing he can do to stop this gross violation of the department’s policy that public school land should not be sold to private schools.

“This is not true. Section 125 of the Education Act gives the Minister the power to acquire ‘by compulsory process’ land with just compensation.

“In this case compensation would be nothing more than the $4.3 million purchase price paid by Al Amanah’s front company Garden View Apartments  and reimbursement of the costs of drafting the College’s plans for a 1,200 student private school.

“Al Amanah College’s development application proves that the land was not surplus to public education’s needs.

“By demonstrating that there is demand for another 1,200 student places in the region, the College has given the Minister good grounds to argue that the land will be a needed to expand public education.

“If Minister Della Bosca is serious about addressing the outrage of local residents and the education community he will immediately use his power under the Act to bring the land back into public ownership,” Dr Kaye said.