BBC: Residents up in arms over exclusive school’s land sale
Residents of an up-market Brisbane suburb are up in arms about plans by a neighbouring elite school to sell off a $5.5 million prime parcel of land for townhouses.
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Residents of an up-market Brisbane suburb are up in arms about plans by their neighbour, the exclusive Brisbane Boys’ College, to sell off a $5.5 million prime parcel of land for townhouses.
The locals argue that the subdivision of the land and construction of 24 townhouses and apartments on leafy Union St, Taringa, on the western edge of the school’s land, will mean the already-congested streets surround the school will be almost impassable in peak times.
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They argue the street is already blighted by traffic snarls due to parents dropping their kids off by car to school and sporting events.
The Jolly family, who live next door to the proposed development, which has been named “Oakman Residences” on architectural plans, have written to the Brisbane City Council to argue that increasing the density of population in the street will clog up the thoroughfare near the school sports grounds, and will make car parking more difficult.
Elizabeth Robinson, who lives nearby, wrote to the council to say the development was just another example of history being destroyed over Brisbane.
“If our educational leaders cannot be trusted to withstand the destruction of Brisbane, what hope have we got?” Ms Robinson wrote to council.
The scandal-plagued Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association has signed a contract with a developer to sell off 0.8ha of land owned by Brisbane Boys’ College, a school founded in 1902 and on its current site since 1931.
But the plan to boost the PMSA’s coffers by getting development approval for a townhouse and unit development before completing the sale hit a snag after council insisted the new complex could only be built if it included a costly 6m-wide easement, or access road, through the middle of the land.
Council insists the easement is vital to ensure the school’s tennis courts at the rear of the development can be accessed for construction and maintenance of utility services because the tennis courts do not have road frontage.
Brisbane Boys' College, a historic school which has 1500 day and boarder students, has taken its fight with council over the easement on the land to the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane.
The school argues in court that the easement isn’t necessary and will unnecessarily “alienate or constrain” a “not insignificant” part of the land for residential development purposes.
The easement could mean the developer won’t be able to build the planned 24 townhouses and apartments on the land, which could curb its financial viability.
The planned development of 17 townhouses, six apartments and one house is on land which currently has three homes on it, which used to house school staff, according to documents filed with the BCC.
Under the development application filed by developer Feltham Property Group, two homes will be demolished but one house, “Kaieta”, built in 1890, which used to be the headmaster’s residence, will be kept by the townhouse developer and renovated and incorporated into the new site, according to plans filed with the BCC.
PMSA chair Greg Adsett, who works as an architect, gave the green light to sell the land to the developer, according to documents filed with council.
The case is due to return to court on September 16, and is likely to be heard over two days in October.
BBC old boy John Drewe, who bought and restored “Kaieta” in 1978 before living in it for 20 years, said the house was a historic part of Taringa.
“I am a little sad that the current powers that be want to dispose of it,” he said.
“The property is historically closely connected with the school, so it is rather sad for them to be unable to retain it.”
Brisbane Boys’ College headmaster Paul Brown told The Sunday Mail in a statement the land was surplus to the school’s needs and the sale was approved by BBC council, the PMSA audit and finance committee and the PMSA board.
“The land is separated by the Toowong Creek and is closer to Oakman Park than it is to college property,” he said.
“The use of this land does not form any part of our master plan moving forward.
“The proceeds from the sale of this land will be reinvested back into the college to fund exciting new developments that will be of great benefit to every BBC family.
“The college plans on communicating its refreshed master plan to its community in the near future.”
