LOCAL LIFE
Residents voice strong opposition to proposed Sikh school in Oakville
Plans for a new $ 72.6 million Sikh Grammar School in Oakville have triggered growing concern among residents, who fear the development will destroy the area’ s rural lifestyle and further strain already inadequate infrastructure.
The proposed two-storey school, early learning centre and long daycare facility would cater for around 550 students on a two-hectare site in Speets Road. While the project has been promoted as Australia’ s first independent Sikh Grammar School, combining the NSW curriculum with Sikh values, many locals say they were never consulted and that the development is out of step with the character of the small semi-rural suburb.
Residents say Oakville’ s roads, particularly Boundary Road, are already under heavy pressure, with narrow lanes, blind corners and failing bitumen making it unsafe for the current traffic load- let alone hundreds of additional school vehicles each day. They argue that Oakville was never designed for large institutional facilities and that such projects belong in nearby urban growth areas like Box Hill, where road and drainage systems can accommodate expansion.
Adding to their frustration, locals point out that while The Hills Shire Council approved the school, the burden on infrastructure falls within the Hawkesbury local government area. Many see this as a planning imbalance that unfairly shifts the impact onto residents who chose the area for its peace, open space, and rural charm.
A Hindu school is also proposed less than a kilometre away on Saunders Road, intensifying fears of cumulative overdevelopment and irreversible change to the suburb’ s landscape and safety. Residents are now calling on Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston to intervene and advocate for a review of the proposal, citing safety, environmental, and lifestyle concerns.
Concerned citizens can contact Ms Preston via hawkesbury @ parliament. nsw. gov. au, or share their views with Independent team at info @ hdinews. com. au using the subject line“ Oakville Developments.”
Increase to the Centrelink Deeming rates- what does that mean?
On 20 September, at the same time as benefit payments were indexed, Centrelink increased their Deeming rates, but do you know what Deeming is and how it can affect your Centrelink benefits?
Deeming is a set percentage used by Centrelink to work out the income from your financial assets. Financial assets include Bank Accounts, Shares, Managed Funds, Loans, some gifts, some income streams and if you are over retirement age, Superannuation. Deeming assumes you receive a set income from these assets whether you receive this income or not.
The upside is that you do not need to keep updating Centrelink when your income from these investments changes, and that any income you receive above the deeming rate won’ t affect your payment.
What do the changes mean? Both the deeming rates and thresholds have changed so people receiving an incometested pension or allowance may have their payment reduced, and people with a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or Low Income Health Care Card may become ineligible.
For example: Jackson, 70, is a single homeowner with $ 300,000 in financial assets($ 250k in an account-based pension and $ 50k in the bank). Currently, he is eligible for the full Age Pension of $ 30,646.20 p. a.($ 1,178.70 / fortnight).
After a 0.50 per cent deeming rate rise, his assessable income increases from $ 5,466 to $ 6,966 p. a., reducing his Age Pension to $ 29,997.20 p. a.($ 1,153.74 / fortnight) a decrease of $ 649 p. a. or $ 24.96 per fortnight.
If you have questions about your eligibility for the Age Pension, we offer personalised assistance in easy to understand language. Call us today, 1300 222 484.
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine. com. au ISSUE 186 // NOVEMBER 2025 11