New Epsom college on the cards

Plans for a new secondary school in central Auckland looked to have been resurrected last night.

The University of Auckland is considering whether to release its Epsom campus - the former Auckland College of Education - to the Ministry of Education.

The ministry wants a new school to take pressure off the ever-growing numbers of students at other inner-city schools, such as Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls Grammar. But the plans are likely to mean months of uncertainty for families and home-buyers as they wait to see whether homes will be rezoned to accommodate the new school.

Any decision could have a major impact on house prices in the highly sought-after Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls zones. The site is also near St Cuthbert's College.

Paul Burke, the ministry's national property manager, said last night that there were no specific plans to build the school yet.

"But we are facing significant population growth and this is a good opportunity because there are not many central areas of that size available."

Plans for a 2000-student secondary school at nearby Alexandra Park were thwarted last year after the ministry ran into resource consent difficulties.

At the time officials said they would look at a new school "in several years" when there was a clearer picture of Auckland's growth.

The Epsom campus is Crown-owned and has been part of the university since the teachers' college and university merged last September.

The site has been the Auckland home of teacher training for almost 80 years.

John Morris, headmaster at Auckland Grammar, told the Herald neither he nor the principal at Epsom Girls had been contacted by the ministry.

"I think it's a little discourteous because we have an integral interest in the process," he said.

Asked if it was the right place for a new school, Mr Morris said it was an "interesting choice".

"It's right in the middle of our zone and Epsom's so it would create a very confusing situation as to where the lines were drawn."

The Herald understands the idea came from informal discussions between Education Minister Trevor Mallard and University of Auckland vice-chancellor Stuart McCutcheon.

Mr Mallard said last night that he would "welcome and consider a proposal on its merits".

A joint ministry and university working party had been set up, he said.