Elite westside girls’ school sports upgrade angers neighbours

A huge upgrade at one of Queensland’s best private girls’ schools will supercharge its sporting achievements. But neighbours are alarmed for their piece of paradise. SEE THE PLANS

Plans to create a major sporting hub complete with an Olympic pool, tennis courts and much more will supercharge the sporting achievements of one of Queensland’s best girls’ schools.

But neighbours say the multistage St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School upgrade will create a traffic nightmare on surrounding streets.

The Ambiwerra sports ground masterplan has also raised concerns about sensitive Oxley Creek, noise, floodlights and a State Government approvals process which overrides Council’s planning laws.

Residents in Corinda in Brisbane’s inner west have until Friday (July 16) to respond to the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process, which many said they found out about only last month.

Aerial view of the Ambiwerra site at Corinda.

An MID last year for a major boarding house project at St Peters Lutheran College in Indooroopilly also infuriated residents and the local councillor.

Another for a planned upgrade for the “home of rugby’’ at Ballymore, in Herston, has angered locals there as well.

College principal, Toni Riordan, said part of the process to obtain approval for its masterplan was a “robust and thorough’’ consultation process.

“At St Aidan’s, the relationships with our neighbouring communities has always been extremely important and valued by us, which is why we encourage concerned stakeholders to use the consultation channels available to express their views,’’ Ms Riordan said.

“In preparing Ambiwerra’s proposed masterplan, we considered how the surrounding community could use and benefit from the use of the site, which is why it was decided that the community will still be able to access the site.

Where some of the new sporting facilities could go.

“The proposed masterplan identifies potential community facilities such as a pedestrian and bike path, a potential future pedestrian bridge link across Oxley Creek to Oxley Commons, and a community garden.’’

But resident Jessica Simonis questioned how genuine the school was being with locals, saying the traffic study was done over a six-day period in February, 2019, when there were no sporting carnivals or events.

“Erinvale St and Tahlia Ct are very narrow and already carry a lot of traffic in the mornings, as cars use a driveway at the end of Erinvale to get to Ambiwerra,’’ she said.

“We of course support good sporting facilities for schools, but this is an enormous, staged development involving an Olympic pool, new canteen, carparking, covered sports area, cafe, tennis courts and potential for new school buildings whose purpose is as yet undefined.

“They don’t just seem to be interested at all in the impact.’’

Principal Toni Riordan with students Alice Baumann, Genevieve Rule and Phoebe McAuliffe in 2018. Ms Riordan says the school has widely consulted with neighbours on its sports upgrade. Picture: AAP/Richard Waugh

Ms Simonis said neighbours were particularly concerned about the planned operating hours, from 5am to 10pm seven days a week.

“It feels like a commercial venture from which they will be making money. The pool will have a learn-to-swim program, but there is already an Olympic pool with a learn-to-swim program three minutes away.

“This would not meet Council’s neighbourhood plan and community facilities code requirements for amenity and scale, but the MID overrides Council.’’

Local Councillor, Nicole Johnston, said she was concerned at aspects of the upgrade.

“St Aidan’s is a wonderful school that has been educating girls and young women in the district for almost 100 years,’’ Cr Johnston said.

“The proposed redevelopment significantly intensifies the use of Ambiwerra and raises a number of complex environmental, flooding, traffic and amenity issues that must be carefully assessed by the State Government to get the balance right for local residents, the school and Oxley Creek.’’

Cr Nicole Johnston. Picture: Peter Cronin

Ms Riordan said the school carried out initial engagement with the community and other stakeholders last September and October, as well as the current consultation process.

“If members of the community have any concerns regarding the proposed masterplan, we encourage them to make a submission by visiting www.planning.dsdmip.qld.gov.au/id-consultations, which has information on the various ways to make a submission,’’ she said.

“We also have appointments available so interested community members can meet with school

representatives to discuss the proposed masterplan.’’

But Ms Simonis said when residents asked for a public meeting, they were told the school would not host one due to Covid requirements.