A petition has been drawn up as residents fight plans for a private P-12 school at the end of a narrow rural road in Diggers Rest.
Duncans Lane resident Laurie Pincini said an increasing number of people were alarmed at an application for a 520-student school and on-site childcare lodged with Hume council.
He said the six-hectare site, on green wedge land, was not suitable for a school.
Mr Pincini, who recently met with almost 60 people opposed to the application, said a petition would be created following a second meeting last Thursday night.
He claimed the planning application was full of holes, with some neighbouring properties left off maps.
‘‘They’re trying to paint a picture that this area is not rural lifestyle, that it’s industrial,’’ he said.
Mr Pincini said he also had problems with the scope of the project.
‘‘The only part of the [area] they’re not wanting to cover is where they want to have sport,’’ he said.
He said potential traffic and sewage issues could negatively affect other properties in the area.
‘‘Duncans Lane is a typical country road. And every property owner we’ve spoken to has photos of water running across their land.’’
The application by The Planning Group, on behalf of Design Core Architects, was lodged in August last year.
A proposed kindergarten was removed from an amended proposal received in early February and the applicant also revised plans to accommodate fewer students than originally planned.
The application also outlines plans to deal with stormwater, carparking and traffic requirements.
It does not list a religious denomination for the proposed school.
Council sustainability director Kelvin Walsh said the site was not subject to any overlays.
He said the application was still being advertised and no decision would be made before a planning committee meeting on Tuesday.
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