The province has bought six acres of undeveloped land on South Skirt Mountain for $6.6 million for a future elementary school.
With growth in the area expected to explode with the completion of the new Bear Mountain Parkway, buying and banking the property — prior to the start of development — makes good economic sense, Premier John Horgan said Friday.
The province recently announced a land purchase for a future school in Surrey, he said.
“Because the development had already started, the same amount of property cost $24 million,” Horgan said at a media event at Langford’s Lakewood Elementary.
“So by having the foresight to purchase this land before development begins, when we know young families are going to come here … the province can use its resources appropriately, we’re saving taxpayers in the long term and we’re providing quality education for our children. ”
It’s hoped a new elementary school in north Langford will help relieve existing and future enrolment pressures at Lakewood Elementary and nearby Millstream Elementary.
Langford is the fastest growing community in the region and the Sooke school district has been stretched keeping up with demand.
“If we do nothing, by 2026 — which is not too long ahead of us for the kids who are behind me — this district would be at 130 per cent over capacity,” said Education Minister Rob Fleming.
“This school would not just have three portables, as it does today, it would have 12 or 15. That’s the kind of overcrowding crisis that neglect and under-investment has caused in a number of communities and it’s what we’re trying to avoid.”
Just when a new 350-seat school can be built on the site is uncertain.
Sooke school district chairman Ravi Parmar said the district is in the process of updating its long-range facilities plan, and has a lot of demands.
“Four thousand new students we’re projecting over the next 10 years — almost a 30 per cent increase — so we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us,” Parmar said.
Langford’s population was 35,342 in 2016, up from 18,840 in 2001. Its population is projected to grow to 42,000 by 2026.
Coun. Denise Blackwell said Langford council works hard with the school district, senior government and the development community to try to keep up with growth.
“Since we are one of the fastest growing municipalities in the province, [we try to make sure] the infrastructure keeps up,” Blackwell said.
With the purchase, the province says it has invested $55 million in capital projects in the Sooke school district since September 2017, including $23.3 million for 16 acres in West Langford for an elementary and middle school and $25.2 million for an addition to Royal Bay Secondary School.
