Public Support Letter Templates
Six helpful prompts to help you express, in your own words, why you support the proposed development.
How to use these templates
- Choose the example that best reflects your own perspective.
- Add a personal detail, such as your connection to Lochinvar, western Maitland, local schools, community organisations or family life.
- Use only statements that are true for you. Change the wording so the final letter is genuinely your own.
- Provide your full name and suburb so Council can recognise the submission as an individual community response.
Suggested subject: Support for proposed SPCC Maitland school at Lochinvar DA/2026/560
Important: These examples are designed to prompt authentic community feedback, not to disguise coordinated or duplicate submissions. Council submissions should reflect each writer’s own views and experience.
Follow the link below to submit your support letter
Example 1 | Local family and educational choice
Best suited to: parents, grandparents and residents seeking more local educational choice.
Dear Maitland City Council,
I am writing to express my support for the proposed St Philip’s Christian College Maitland school at Lochinvar.
As [a parent / grandparent / resident] in [suburb], I believe families in the growing western Maitland area should have access to a wider range of local schooling options. A new independent Christian school would give families greater choice and could reduce the need for some children to travel outside the area for an education that aligns with their needs and values.
The proposal is also a positive investment in the future of Lochinvar. Providing education infrastructure alongside residential growth will help create a more complete community where families can learn, work and participate locally.
I encourage Council to support the proposal, subject to the normal planning requirements, so that local families can benefit from additional educational choice as the area continues to grow.
Yours faithfully,
[Full name]
[Suburb]
[Optional: connection to the area]
Personalisation prompt: Add one sentence about why having a school closer to home matters to your family.
Example 2 | Growth and forward planning
Best suited to: residents focused on population growth and infrastructure planning.
Dear Maitland City Council,
I support the establishment of a new St Philip’s Christian College school at Lochinvar because it represents sensible planning for a growing community.
New housing brings new families, and new families require schools and other community services. It is important that education facilities are planned early rather than waiting until existing services are under greater pressure. The proposed school would help ensure that local infrastructure develops alongside the surrounding residential area.
A school can also become an important community anchor. It brings families together, supports local connections and creates a long-term presence in the area. In my view, the Lochinvar proposal is consistent with the needs of an expanding western Maitland community.
I ask Council to give favourable consideration to the application and to work constructively with the applicant to resolve any reasonable planning matters.
Yours faithfully,
[Full name]
[Suburb]
Personalisation prompt: Mention how long you have lived, worked or been connected to the Maitland area.
Example 3 | Reducing travel for families
Best suited to: families concerned about school travel and daily convenience.
Dear Maitland City Council,
I wish to record my support for the proposed SPCC Maitland school at Lochinvar.
For many families, the location of a school has a major impact on daily life. Having an additional school option closer to growing residential areas could reduce travel time, make school routines more manageable and allow families to spend more time in their own community.
Locating a new school within the western Maitland growth area is a practical response to changing local needs. It would provide another option for families while contributing to a community where essential services are located closer to the people who use them.
I recognise that traffic, access and neighbourhood impacts must be carefully assessed through the planning process. Subject to those matters being appropriately managed, I believe the broader community benefits support approval of the proposal.
Yours faithfully,
[Full name]
[Suburb]
[Optional personal example about school travel]
Personalisation prompt: Briefly describe a genuine travel or school-access challenge experienced by your household.
Example 4 | Community-building and belonging
Best suited to: community members who value connection, belonging and service.
Dear Maitland City Council,
I am pleased to support the proposal for a new St Philip’s Christian College school at Lochinvar.
A school contributes more than classrooms. It can create a strong sense of belonging by connecting children, parents, staff and local organisations. As Lochinvar and western Maitland grow, community places that encourage relationships, service and participation will become increasingly important.
St Philip’s proposal offers an opportunity to establish a welcoming learning community with a focus on education, character and care for others. These qualities would make a valuable contribution to the broader Maitland community, including for families who are seeking an independent Christian education.
I respectfully ask Council to support the development and enable this new community asset to progress through the planning process.
Yours faithfully,
[Full name]
[Suburb]
[Optional: community group or local connection]
Personalisation prompt: Mention a local community connection or the type of community contribution you value.
Example 5 | Diversity of schooling options
Best suited to: supporters of a diverse mix of government and non-government schooling.
Dear Maitland City Council,
I am writing in support of the proposed new SPCC Maitland school at Lochinvar.
A strong community benefits from having different education options available. Families make schooling decisions for many reasons, including learning approach, school culture, values, wellbeing and the individual needs of their children. Providing an additional independent school option would improve choice for families across Lochinvar and the wider Maitland area.
The proposal would complement, rather than replace, the important role of existing government and non-government schools. As the local population grows, a broader mix of schools can help meet demand and give parents greater opportunity to choose an environment that suits their family.
I encourage Council to approve the proposal, subject to appropriate conditions that address the relevant planning and infrastructure requirements.
Yours faithfully,
[Full name]
[Suburb]
Personalisation prompt: Explain one factor that matters to your family when choosing a school.
Example 6 | Long-term investment in young people
Best suited to: people focused on long-term outcomes for children and young people.
Dear Maitland City Council,
I support the proposed St Philip’s Christian College development at Lochinvar as a long-term investment in local children and young people.
Quality education facilities are essential infrastructure. Decisions made now will shape whether future families can access suitable schooling close to where they live. Establishing the school provides an opportunity to create a modern learning environment that can respond to the needs of the community over time.
I also support the aspiration for the school to grow in a planned way if future demand and approvals allow. A carefully staged approach would enable educational facilities to develop responsibly as the surrounding community expands.
I ask Council to look favourably on the proposal and recognise the lasting community value that a new school can provide.
Yours faithfully,
[Full name]
[Suburb]
[Optional: why education matters to you]
Personalisation prompt: Add a personal sentence about the opportunities you want local children to have.