The site chosen to replace a high school closed due to mold contamination is contaminated with lead, asbestos, and zinc, the NSW Government has heard. The new Wee Waa High School would also cut off two homeowners from their houses and create a "significant loss of amenity and reduction in land value" for neighbours, opponents claimed. Just four residents of Wee Waa had their say on the new school in the formal development application submissions process. Three submissions to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment were negative, with just one in favour. READ MORE: Neighbour Robyn Allen said the decision to build on the six-hectare Mitchell Street site beggared belief. "After the mold contamination of the previous school caused such health concerns for the staff and students, I can not believe the department would even consider risking any exposure to toxins to the school community again," she said. "Although the report say that there is a plan to limit the exposure, the risk is still too big." A spokesperson for the Department of Education said all neighbouring properties will still have access to their properties via Boundary, Charles and George streets. The department would respond to the formal feedback through the development application process, they said. "There is a small amount of contamination in a north-western corner of the site. The contamination is localised, confined to surface soils, and is consistent with materials associated with rubbish dumping," they said. "The small amount of contamination will be fully remediated as part of the new project and a remediation action plan was submitted and exhibited with the planning submission." The new high school replaces the old Wee Waa High School, which was closed in 2020 after students contracted a mysterious mold-related illness. The state government committed in June 2021 to build a new school in Wee Waa, at a cost of $37.8 million. Edward Williams, who lives on George St, and would neighbour the new school, said it would directly overlook the majority of his property, causing a "permanent loss of privacy". "I support the need for a new Wee Waa High School, but I do not support the site location when taking into account the short, medium and long term (permanent) impacts such a development will have on myself and my family," he said. "I find the reasons given in the proposal to justify the new site unconvincing." An anonymous "future student" and Wee Waa resident said the project would modernise the existing education facilities to the standard more common in city areas. The Narrabri Shire Council and Transport for New South Wales have yet to make a submission on the scheme. The centre will have a capacity of 200 students, with the ability to expand to accommodate 300. The project would create 150 direct and indirect construction jobs and the new school would accommodate 11 additional full-time equivalent positions. It would include a two-storey school building, arranged in a u-shape around a courtyard, including teaching spaces, library and administration, staff facilities, a multi-purpose gymnasium and hall, plus a standalone single-story agricultural and environment centre building, and a standalone single-story Indigenous Cultural Centre. The project DA describes the site as "undeveloped with several natural, open stormwater drainage channels running through it". The high school will continue to operate from the temporary set up at Wee Waa Public School until the project is completed. In June, Education Minister Sarah Mitchell estimated students would attend their first classes by the end of 2022. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: