Cohort furious at Gabba uncertainty as architects told not to include school

The Palaszczuk government has been accused of “moving ahead in secret” with plans for a $1bn redevelopment of the Gabba for the 2032 Olympics.

Architectural firms have been urged to lodge an expression of interest to redesign the Gabba Stadium ahead of its Olympic Games overhaul.

Firms have been quietly approached by the Palaszczuk government inviting them to register their interest in designing the stadium, which is set to become the centrepiece of the 2032 Olympics by hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and athletics events.

East Brisbane State School, seen in the bottom left of this photo, is located beside the Gabba.

The Palaszczuk government has committed to demolishing and rebuilding the Gabba larger at an expected cost of more than $1bn.

However, the fate of neighbouring East Brisbane State School and nearby Raymond Park is uncertain, with both sites thought to make way for the Games.

The fate of East Brisbane State School is unknown. Picture: Richard Walker

Member for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon said that the architectural firms had been told not to include East Brisbane State School in the design, which she said was the strongest indication yet it would be removed from the site.

Ms MacMahon said 12 months since Brisbane won the Games bid, the school community was “getting really angry” about the lack of consultation.

Amy MacMahon says the school cohort has been left in the dark over the redesign and how it will impact the school. Picture: Richard Walker

The East Brisbane State School has 300 students and is growing, however, plans for a new three-storey building were shelved after the city won the Games.

“The prevailing mood is one of intense frustration,” Ms MacMahon said about the lack of consultation.

“We still have no details about the future of the school.”

Member for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Josh Woning

The first-term Greens MP said she was sceptical about the benefits of the Olympics, which were “moving ahead at the expense of a state school, major park and affordable housing”.

“The government is moving ahead in secret with no consultation,” she said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the Education Minister was in regular contact with representatives from the school about the plans.

“As we have said repeatedly, we are working through the process of determining what the design for the Gabba is in more specifics,” he said.

“And that will then determine what the implications are for East Brisbane State School.

“At that time we will be able to consult with the community regarding options from there.”