Principal, Malcolm Bromhead, in a newsletter to parents last month said that recent discussions with Cessnock City Council indicate the final stages of the development application will soon be approved.

Mr. Bromhead said that council has asked consultants for the new school for additional reports concerning Lomas Lane and also issues on landscaping.

“Hopefully these will be addressed in the coming weeks. Meanwhile our architect is putting the final touches to the buildings and so we are looking forward to starting on the land this year.

Mr. Bromhead, said the new school will bring with it a whole new educational precinct in its design, facilities and care for the environment, even to the stage of generating portion of the power needed to fulfil its needs.

Stage one works, worth an estimated $12 million, will be sited on the general area on the corner of Wine Country Drive and Lomas Lane. Apart from the site works there will be a permanent building for the library, middle and senior school and demountables for the junior school and administration block.

Entry and exit will be from Lomas Lane. Stage two will include providing permanent buildings for the junior school.

The site will retain and develop further wetlands as well as feature a cluster of endangered species of trees. A community oval will be one feature of the site while other parts of the 87 acres will provide sports ovals and other community features.

Currently, St. Philip’s at South Cessnock has students from Year K to 10; and in 2011 there will be an estimated 350 students in Years K to 11.

When the current campus became St Philip’s (formerly Cessnock Christian School) about four years ago, it had 27 students. Since then, the college has grown dramatically.

In other news from the college, Mr. Bromhead said there has been a huge response for establishing a Prep School aimed specifically at preparing four-year-olds for school. Twenty applications have already been received and the prep school will start in third term.

Mr. Bromhead added that the college is also taking enrolments for Year 11 in 2011.