Site search continues for new primary school in Brisbane’s Inner West scheduled to open this year

A frustrated Greens MP went on the attack in state parliament this week over the lack of planning for a new primary school, a 2020 State Election promise, that was scheduled to open this year.

A political war of words is in full swing over a promised new Brisbane school after the Greens went on the attack this week, prompting Labor and the Liberal National Party to return fire.

The new primary school in Inner West Brisbane was a 2020 State Election promise made by Education Minister Grace Grace.

It was meant to open at the start of the 2023 school year, but the Queensland Department of Education still hasn’t settled on a site.

Community backlash and planning issues over two proposed sites have hampered progress.

If the project goes ahead it would be the first primary school for the Inner West in 60 years.

Artist's impression of the proposed new primary school in Brisbane's Inner West. Picture: Queensland Department of Education.

Plans to co-locate the primary school on Indooroopilly State High School’s campus raised major traffic concerns regarding the already under pressure Lambert Road.

The Toowong Bowls Club was also put forward, but was identified as a flood-prone site as it was two metres underwater during the February 2022 floods.

Frustrated Greens MP Michael Berkman, whose Maiwar electorate covers the city’s inner-west, addressed state parliament on Tuesday night saying “it is time to get real”.

“Indooroopilly State School is absolutely chockers,” he said.

“Toowong State School is essentially back to full capacity and in the same situation it endured in 2019 when half the school oval was taken over by demountables for three years.

“This is a direct result of a failure to plan ahead. I have lost count of how many times I have urged the government … to bite the bullet and to acquire new land for the new school in the most appropriate area.

“The government is only too happy to spend billions demolishing and rebuilding the Gabba and, no less, taking out a heritage-listed state school along the way, but they will not stump up the cash for the new school they promised my community years ago.

“I have suggested options in Taringa like a smaller school at the TriCare development site or purchasing the blocks that are up for sale around the Taringa train station, but they apparently just do not want to acquire new land.”

Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman. Picture: David Clark

Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace. Picture: Tara Croser

However, Ms Grace fired back in a statement to The Courier-Mail, saying Mr Berkman had misled the community.

“Mr Berkman raised the Taringa site with me last year, and I wrote to him on January 4 explaining the department had thoroughly explored his suggestion and deemed it unsuitable,” she said.

“For example, it would impact at least 31 property and business owners, there are significant noise issues, and a 10m fall to the adjacent rail corridor presents a safety hazard.”

LNP Education Spokesman Christian Rowan, whose Moggill electorate adjoins Mr Berkman’s Maiwar electorate, said the new school’s planning had been “a complete failure”. He also laid some of the blame with Mr Berkman.

“The Labor State Government must now be open and transparent about how they will deal with school enrolment pressures, and what plans the government has for additional infrastructure for local schools in Brisbane’s western suburbs,” Dr Rowan said.

“When the Palaszczuk Government announced a new school for Brisbane’s Inner West, the Greens were publicly claiming to have secured its delivery.

“On multiple occasions the Greens have claimed to have secured a new primary school for Brisbane’s Inner West.

“It is clear that both Labor and the Greens are in a complete mess on school infrastructure.”

Moggill MP and LNP Education Spokesman Dr Christian Rowan. Picture: Liam Kidston.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said a report on last year’s community consultation is being finalised and plans for a new school remain, but it is no longer urgent.

“The department has noted concerns about the former Toowong Bowls Club site raised through 2022 community consultation and is reconsidering the location of a new primary school for Brisbane’s inner west,” she said.

“Data shows that enrolments across local schools have stabilised. This has reduced

immediate pressure across the network, and additional infrastructure is being planned for local schools.”

Ms Grace said last year tighter enrolment controls at Ironside, Toowong and Indooroopilly state schools meant there was no longer an urgent need for a new school in the area.

There was community outrage earlier this month when it was pointed out that the promised inner-west primary school was not listed on the Department of Education’s planned new schools web page.

But it was soon re-added and it is understood it was a departmental oversight, rather than a deliberate omission.

When selecting a new school site, the Department of Education’s criteria includes site size, constructability, and vehicle access.