Bellbird Park State School’s opening delayed due to severe weather

Students will be forced to attend a neighbouring campus when class returns with severe weather delaying the opening of a new Ipswich state school.

The opening of Bellbird Park State School at Ipswich had been impacted due to recent severe weather over the festive period.

The opening date of a new state school in Ipswich has been pushed back due to severe weather with students to be forced to attend a neighbouring campus when class returns, education minister Di Farmer has confirmed.

In a statement, Ms Farmer said the opening of Bellbird Park State School at Ipswich had been impacted due to recent severe weather over the festive period.

The site remains heavily waterlogged following the Christmas and New Year severe thunderstorms with construction crews unable to yet complete final works to safely open the school, it read.

The opening of Bellbird Park State School at Ipswich had been impacted due to recent severe weather over the festive period.

It includes final works to outdoor play areas and fire egress – part of a total of 96 Queensland state schools to have sustained damages from the wild weather.

Students and staff will be forced to attend the neighbouring Woogaroo Creek State School at Augustine Heights until Bellbird Park SS is ready to open.

The statement said transport between both schools would be provided to minimise impact on families and students.

While teaching and learning will commence from January 22, it is yet to be confirmed when Bellbird Park State School will reopen.

Ms Farmer said the department of education was providing information about arrangements “directly to staff, parents and caregivers, and it would continue to work with contractors to open the school as soon as possible”.

“We know that students and staff were very excited to begin the school year at the brand new Bellbird Park State School,” Ms Farmer said.

“We look forward to welcoming students and staff to the Bellbird Park site as soon as we can accommodate student learning needs in a safe environment.”

A spokesman for Ms Farmer said the construction timelines were unclear with more heavy rainfall predicted but said it was expected to open in term 1.

The new school is being delivered by ADCO Constructions and joins the new $75 million Scenic Shores State School at Redland Bay as one of two new state schools to be built for the 2024 school year.