Logan floods: Canterbury College staff refuse to return to work

Teachers, other staff and parents have rejected an elite southeast school’s back-to-school order, saying it’s not yet safe to travel.

Angry staff at Canterbury College in flood-ravaged Logan are refusing to return to their workplace today, despite the private school providing a road map suggesting ways to travel.

Teachers, other staff and parents are calling the decision to reopen the school on Wednesday “irresponsible” and “reckless”.

Public schools remain closed and the government directive is to travel only when it is safe to do so.

“We’re told Logan is the new ground zero for the flood yet that we’re meant to head to school; it’s horrendous,” one told The Courier-Mail.

“No buses are running to the school and yet we have to brave it: the bridge you have to cross to get there is flooded out.”

Another said the school offering alternative routes via a mud map would produce bottle-necking in the flood-affected community.

Canterbury College at Waterford West in Logan

“For the sake of one day’s schooling, it’s so irresponsible it’s beyond belief,” the person said.

“The decision to open based on location alone is reckless.”

In an email to Canterbury College staff yesterday, principal Daniel Walker said the classrooms affected by rain had been dried out and “although Waterford-Tamborine Rd looks like an inland sea, there are no issues with access to the area via High Rd”.

“Please come to school tomorrow if you are able,” Mr Walker said.

“I know that those who live to the south and west of the college are still likely to be cut off for some time yet.”

Mr Walker asked staff unable to travel to contact the school by 4pm yesterday so their classes could be otherwise facilitated.

One staffer said with the water levels due to rise, it was unreasonable to make a call by yesterday afternoon.

Canterbury College communications director Stephen Buckley said today the school was trying to cater to all families in its 25km catchment, some of whom had been badly affected by the floods and others who wanted the school open.

“The last thing we would want is for someone to get hurt so we have provided three options: come in if you can; remote learning; or neither if you are flooded in.”

He said the alternative route provided by the school had been personally drive by one of the board members to ensure it was safe.