Grammar school backflip on controversial building plans

A top Sunshine Coast school has backed down on plans for a new cafeteria that would have required a portion of natural rainforest to be bulldozed into the ground.

Sunshine Coast Grammar School has admitted further consultation is required before cafeteria plans continue.

Outrage over a top Grammar school’s controversial leaked plans to bulldoze a section of rainforest to build a new cafeteria has forced the school to back down.

Sunshine Coast Grammar School infuriated teachers, students and parents when it was revealed on Tuesday a portion of the school’s natural rainforest would be sacrificed for a new build.

The Courier-Mail understands teachers were informed on Tuesday afternoon that part of the school’s rainforest walk would be demolished to build a new cafeteria complex, with the information later leaked to students and parents.

Construction had been due to begin within days.

Students then created a number of signs protesting the development, with teachers and parents concerned no wider school community announcement had been made regarding the plans.

“Within the last two years there have been four separate periods of large construction, which have all caused great disruption to the campus and our lessons,” one school member told The Courier-Mail.

“Quite frankly, our staff are sick of it. Their voices are being ignored.”

Sunshine Coast Grammar School principal Anna Owen. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Parents also took to the school’s Facebook page to express their distaste with the plans.

“It’s the ‘green’ that makes our campus so amazing for our kids. Let’s keep it that way,” one wrote.

Another posted “100 acre natural rainforest playground is Grammar’s marketing slogan so surely this wouldn’t be threatened? What a great hypocrisy that would be.”

Following the outpouring of anger about the proposal, on Thursday the school backflipped on the plans.

Principal Anna Owen told The Courier-Mail the school had written to the community to address concerns over the new plan.

“The project is being formally reviewed and will not go ahead in its current form,” she said.

“We recognise that more consultation is necessary as the community has significant concerns over the location and the impact of this project on natural surroundings.”

Mrs Owen also said the school taught students “to find their voice” and speak out on issues that “do not align to their values”.

“We, as a community, have pulled together and reached a positive outcome in a timely manner,” she said.