Published on Thursday, 21 August 2025 at 4:55:06 PM
The Town of Bassendean has supported the Casa Mia Montessori Community School since it was first established in 1999 by a small group of home-schooling families.
The initial lease covered both Town-owned land at 11 Hamilton Street that accommodates the school buildings and an adjoining parcel of State Government land, part of BIC Reserve, which houses the school playground.
This parcel of State land (school playground) is designated for community recreation and was originally included in the lease on a temporary basis and is vested under a management order to the Town. The Town`s intention has always been to return this public open space back to the broader community once the Casa Mia Lease has expired.
The year-on-year lease arrangement occurred until 2009, when the Town adopted its Town Centre Area Strategy, and Casa Mia was given notice that the current site would not be a permanent site for the school.
The Town then offered a further four lease extensions from 2009: in 2010, 2012, 2012- 2017 and then a five-year lease with the option of extending the agreement to 31 December 2027.
In July 2016 Casa Mia requested to purchase its existing site and for the Town to relinquish its management order over part of BIC Reserve to incorporate the public open space, currently used as a playground, into the school site.
Casa Mia indicated it would also purchase the adjoining block at 16 Whitfield Street to enable the school to expand. Council resolved to grant a lease extension until December 2019, subject to Casa Mia purchasing 16 Whitfield Street.
At the January 2017 Ordinary Council Meeting, Council was willing to support Casa Mia’s proposed plans and was prepared to make the necessary planning amendments, but this ultimately did not occur as the school rejected the Town’s legal conditions.
Council then rescinded the two-year lease extension to December 2019 and resolved to offer a five-year lease extension with a five-year option and advised Casa Mia that the sale of 11 Hamilton Street would not be considered unless the school had purchased 16 Whitfield Street. Council advised there would be no further lease extensions post 31 December 2027.
By entering into a 10-year lease in 2017 without a further term option, the Town provided a significant notice period for the school to relocate to an alternate site with additional space for the school to grow and become sustainable, noting the limited space at the existing site.
The Town understands the school’s need for continuity for its students and families as they transition to a new site and has consistently demonstrated its willingness to support this transition with the multiple lease extensions and options provided to Casa Mia to secure the site over many years.
Whilst the Town has consistently recognised the valuable contribution that the school makes to the Bassendean community, it has also signaled its clear intent over many years including in the adopted Town Centre Masterplan (2018) that meeting the state governments infill targets was the highest and best use of this land.
On Tuesday 19th August 2025 the Casa Mia School Board provided a deputation to Council and requested a further four year lease extension to December 2031. The matter will be considered at the August Ordinary Council Meeting, to be held on Tuesday 26 August 2025.
Back to All News