Sowilo School Approved to Build in Mundijong
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Client: Sowilo Community High School
Location and Date: Mundijong, Western Australia | 2023 – ongoing
The Project Brief and Background:
Sowilo Community High School provides holistic learning opportunities for young people who have not completed their secondary education, supporting them to gain life skills alongside academic qualifications. The school currently operates from a commercial space in Kelmscott, but sought to expand to a more rural location to create an agricultural-based learning environment incorporating vegetable gardens, animals, and hands-on outdoor learning.
Harley Dykstra was initially engaged in 2023 to assist Sowilo in identifying a suitable site for their new school campus. After assessing several potential properties, the team helped secure a site on Watkins Road in Mundijong.
Harley Dykstra’s Involvement:
Harley Dykstra’s engagement with Sowilo began as a planning consultancy project, evolving into a broader project management role as the development progressed.
Site Identification and Planning Approvals:
The project commenced with a comprehensive site identification process. Sowilo presented potential sites, and Harley Dykstra provided expert advice on planning feasibility and development suitability. Following selection of the Mundijong site, Harley Dykstra managed the complex development approval process.
In land zoned Urban Development, a structure plan is typically required before a permanent development approval can be granted. However, our team successfully negotiated a permanent development approval without the need to prepare a structure plan - a significant achievement given the planning constraints.
Project Management and Construction Support:
After securing planning approval, Sowilo re-engaged Harley Dykstra to assist with project management of the school’s construction phase. Although built-form management is not a standard service, Harley Dykstra’s Henry and Clayton brought prior experience with community projects to the role, ensuring the school’s vision could move forward efficiently in a challenging construction market.
The Harley Dykstra team has since been working closely with the client, and are meeting with architects to shape the school’s long-term vision, supporting Sowilo through discussions on design, layout, and functional requirements for the site.
Progress to Date:
What began as a planning consultancy has evolved into a comprehensive collaboration supporting Sowilo from concept to construction. With development approval secured and ongoing project management discussions underway, Harley Dykstra continues to guide the client through the technical and regulatory processes of developing their new rural campus.
This partnership reflects Harley Dykstra’s commitment to community-based projects, helping educational organisations like Sowilo bring their vision to life through practical planning, management expertise, and a shared focus on long-term community benefit.
To find out more about our Project Management services, click here.
