Private school for Aborigines suffers Redfern setback

St Andrew's Cathedral School, an Anglican private school behind the project, had hoped to open the campus for indigenous children for the start of the new school year.

Children were to be sponsored World Vision-style and the campus would be named Gawura, which means "whale" in the local Eora language.

In order to open the campus, to be located within the Redfern Community Centre, St Andrew's had applied for a change of use.

But after fiery community meetings and mixed feedback, City of Sydney council extended the development application public exhibition period by several weeks, closing on January 25.

The council now says 10 of the 13 submissions received have opposed the plan.

Of greatest concern among residents is the choice of location for the campus. Some say that a private school should not be allowed to operate from a council-owned site.

Redfern Residents for Reconciliation convenor Lyn [Turn]Bull said there was concern that a private school wanted to set up a campus on a publicly owned site.

"It's one of those well-meaning things but is perhaps misguided," she said.

"It's something that can divide a very fragile community. There are a lot of issues the community is having to face. This creates a division that is not particularly helpful."

There were also some objections to the school on religious grounds.

Ms [Turn]Bull said there was a lot of concern voiced by some members of the Aboriginal community about the fact that the Anglican Church in Sydney was very mission-focused.

"There was concern this was a repeat of stuff that had happened in the past," she said.

The group had sent a submission to the council outlining their concerns.

Another local community group, REDWatch, has been monitoring the proposal.

"There was a fear that people were experimenting with the Aboriginal community again," organiser Geoff Turnbull said.

St Andrew's Cathedral School, whose main campus is at Town Hall Square, has been involved in ongoing consultation, doorknocking many homes and running community meetings.

Head of school Phillip Heath said there were about eight children ready to attend the campus when it opened and he was confident that there was still a great deal of support among the local community.

Director of Crossroads Aboriginal Ministries at Redfern Pastor Ray Minniecon has been involved in the project and has been keeping in touch with residents.

Several parents of St Andrew's students as well as members of the business community have offered to sponsor the children when the new campus opens.

A City of Sydney spokesman said the development application was being considered by an independent consultant.

"It is currently being assessed by an independent planning consultant and the city will carefully consider the submissions," he said.