High rise towers and town centre plans raise fears for homes and Woodridge State School

Plans to build two high-rise towers overlooking a primary school playground have reignited fears that a southside school will be levelled and relocated to make way for a town centre.

Logan Central resident Carmel Maciejewski said the council and developer did not have to consult residents before two high rise towers, which will overlook a state primary school, were approved. She said residents were now fearful the school will be relocated. AAP/Sarah Marshall

PLANS to build two high-rise towers overlooking a primary school playground have reignited fears that a southside school will be levelled and relocated to make way for a town centre.

Logan Central residents said they feared Logan City Council would level their homes and neighbourhood, including the Woodridge State School, to make way for a planned town centre and civic hub.

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Their concerns started after elaborate designs in the 2015 Logan Central Local Plan showed the area around Flinders St, at Logan Central, would be converted into a town centre.

The master plan, updated in July this year, converts Flinders St and two nearby schools into a cultural precinct and town hub.

Public backlash prompted the state government last week to reiterate its 2017 stance that there were no longer plans to move Woodridge State School or the adjacent Logan City Special School.

Plans drawn up by Logan City Council as far back as 2011 include levelling Woodridge State School for a town centre and civic hub.

The Flinders St site at Logan Central is near the Woodridge Train Station and also the Woodridge State School.

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But last week’s state Education Department statement stopped short of ruling out relocating the schools in the future.

“The Department of Education has no current plans to relocate any school within Logan City Council local government area or sell Education land within the LCC area,” it said.

“The department regularly reviews planning for all areas of Queensland, and will continue to work closely with council and all stakeholders to ensure high quality infrastructure in state schools across Queensland.”

There were “no current actions” being taken by the council to relocate schools or to fund a town square. “Council does not have the authority to relocate or close a school. That decision would need to be made by the State Government,” the council said.

Residents from Flinders St, which borders Woodridge State School, said their street was listed in 2015 as a “core area” in the Logan Central Local Plan, which converted their neighbourhood into the town centre.

An artist impression of 12 Flinders St, Logan Central, which borders Woodridge State School.

Steffan Town Planning, working for developer Solidity Property Solutions, said last week, the council’s plans had not changed and plans were still in play to move the school if a town centre were to be built.

Carmel Maciejewski in her street at Logan Central, where Logan City Council has approved two high-rise towers which will overshadow the local school. PHOTO: AAP/Sarah Marshall

Resident Carmel Maciejewski said she was furious the developer was given approval to build the two towers and a cafe in her street without having to consult the community.

She said along with concerns about parking, residents were worried the tower blocks would not provide enough outdoor space for tenants and would overshadow the schoolyard.

“The developer has been given approval to knock down two houses in my street and then build six-storey high-rise buildings which will overlook the school’s playground and prep school,” she said.

“There is huge disapproval from people in my street and the Woodridge State School community.

“This is a small residential cul-de-sac bordering a school and the traffic at 3pm clogs up the entire road. There is nowhere for extra cars from 24 apartments to park.

“Communal open space is not provided onsite and the designers have tried to get around that by saying the towers are in proximity to the future town square, which can only be built if the schools are removed.”

A building development approval made on March 5, 2019, which expires after six months.

Developer Solidity Property Solutions bought the two sites in Flinders St at separate times last year.

Months later, by January 2019, Logan City Council had granted two six-year approvals to build 12 units and a food and drink outlet at 10 Flinders St and 12 apartments at 12 Flinders St.

The council also granted Solidity Property Solutions six-month approvals to demolish both houses, which are still standing and remain vacant.

Residents complained about the lack of consultation over the high-rise approvals before the council was dismissed in May.

But Mrs Maciejewski said residents had heard nothing about the development project since May and wanted to know why the two houses had not yet been demolished.

In a letter to Logan Ratepayer’s Association last week, Woodridge MP Cameron Dick said the planning scheme supported the development.

Last week’s letter from Woodridge MP Cameron Dick did not rule out moving Woodridge State School in the future.

He said he wrote to the council’s former acting mayor Cherie Dalley and asked her to assess the community’s concerns about the towers overlooking the school grounds.

“I encouraged the council to ensure privacy and traffic safety issues were addressed and suggested the council improve its engagement with the community when larger developments are proposed,” his October letter to residents said.

“I note the planning scheme allows code assessable development up to 20m high in Flinders St … The planning scheme supports a positive vision established by the master plan to revitalise Logan City.”

Woodridge State School principal Gary Molloy, a vocal opponent of relocating the school, was unavailable to comment on the council plans on Friday.