Toowong’s Perrin Park firms as site for new primary school

A bowls club in Brisbane’s inner-west is firming up as the potential site for a much-needed new primary school, after residents raised concerns with another possible location.

Minister for Education Grace Grace in Question Time. File picture

An unused bowls club is shaping up to be the site of a new Brisbane primary school, with a report revealing Toowong’s Perrin Park precinct is by far the option preferred by residents.

Just where the state government will build a new $65 million primary school – hoped to relieve ongoing enrolment pressure at Indooroopilly State School and Ironside State School – has been a contentious issue since it was first announced in July last year.

But a new consultation report released by the Department of Education revealed locals have overwhelmingly opted for the Perrin Park precinct over the initial proposed site alongside Indooroopilly State High School.

The Toowong Bowls Club suffered severe flooding during the 2011 floods. Pic: Supplied

“Based on the feedback received the Perrin Park Precinct appears to be the preferred site compared to the ISHS site, but further considerations are required,” the report states.

But serious concerns have also been raised with the site, with some locals fearing already busy traffic congestion will only get worse, and also pointing to the site’s record of flooding.

A protected flying fox colony which resides at the park is also a potential stumbling block, with one local saying they were “concerned about the (colony) which poses severe hygiene and contamination issues for students, as well as the ecological value it adds to Perrin Park”.

The state government would also need to secure a deal with the Brisbane City Council, who own the land, and who have “repeatedly expressed their strong opposition to the use of the site”.

But traffic congestion was the top issue with regards to building the school alongside ISHS, with one resident stating “there are too many schools in close proximity, traffic is already terrible around drop-off and pick-up zones”.

Toowong Lawn Bowls Club at Perrin Park. Picture: Richard Walker

The report also revealed the government did consider other sites for the new school, including the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology and the University of Queensland, but they were deemed unsuitable.

Initially due to open in 2023, Education Minister Grace Grace announced in May that the school would be pushed back a year to allow time for more consultation.

It was expected the site would be formally announced later this month.