East Brisbane State School relocation to claim Coorparoo Secondary College basketball courts

A Brisbane college’s brand new $63,000 basketball courts are set to be ripped up when its campus takes on a century-old primary school – but its hoops can be saved.

A Brisbane college’s brand new $63,000 basketball courts are set to be ripped up when its campus takes on a century-old primary school – but its hoops can be saved.

Coorparoo Secondary College is set to lose its newly opened courts when construction starts as part of the East Brisbane State School relocation, the state government has confirmed.

The new master plan of the school shows the relocated East Brisbane State School campus will sit on top of the courts.

The courts were only opened in July by Brisbane Bullets players, according to the college’s social media posts.

A department of education spokesman said the college’s basketball courts had been recently resurfaced as part of routine maintenance to ensure they continued to be usable.

“The works were organised prior to a decision being made on the relocation of East Brisbane State School,” the spokesman said.

“While the courts cannot be relocated, the hoops are able to be reused as needed.”

He said the works cost $63,200 – Google searches of basketball hoops show prices of between $2000-$4000.

Mum Carla Proietti with her kids protesting outside East Brisbane State School earlier this year. Photo Steve Pohlner

East Brisbane State School parents have also slammed the state government over the controversial relocation saying they had been promised new facilities.

In August, Education Minister announced the school would be relocated with “new state-of-the-art” facilities, including a swimming pool.

This week however, the master plan showed that the school would be provided with ”new and refurbished facilities”.

East Brisbane parent Austin Gibbs said the community had been left “incredibly frustrated”.

“One of the carrots that was dangled to justify the decision was that the school would get brand new facilities, but guess what, not many are actually new, they’re refurbished buildings,” Mr Gibbs said.

“We were constantly told that the new Coorparoo site had 11 hectares of room. But the new site will just be 2ha. The current East Brisbane site is 1.5ha, so it’s barely an increase.

“It seems they say one thing and do another.”

Artist’s impression of new buildings at Coorparoo Secondary College.

Greens MP for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon said the state government had effectively lied about the community getting a new school.

Ms MacMahon said the community was set to protest outside the Gabba later this month in a show of force.

“Labor has lied to the school community about getting a new school – instead, they’re getting refurbished buildings and hardly any additional space or facilities,” Ms MacMahon said.

A department of education spokesman said the school would be provided with “state-of-the-art” facilities through the combination of “new buildings and stripped back, rebuilt structures”.

“We will be stripping both buildings back so that the only the structure remains,” the spokesman said.

“All other elements of these buildings – the internal walls, flooring, ceilings, electrical and plumbing services, painting, cabinetry and joinery, and furniture – will be newly built and installed.”

The spokesman said the reuse of structures would provide the “best use” of existing infrastructure and departmental resources and reduce unnecessary waste of buildings.

“The department has held engagement sessions with the school communities,” the spokesman said.

“As planning progresses in late 2023 through to early 2024, there will be further in person and online opportunities for the community to learn more about the future of these schools.”