Moreton Bay Regional Council and Queensland Department of Education (DoE) have earmarked 12 new state schools — three secondary, nine primary — to service almost 70,000 people over the next 40 years.

Those plans are based on state school enrolments from other similar major residential developments from across the state such as North Lakes, Springfield and Coomera.

Brisbane Catholic Education has also earmarked an 1800-student prep to year 12 college to be built in 2031, but it will need to acquire land first.

Queensland University urban planning lecturer Laurel Johnson said it is critical to have a primary school established early on.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CABOOLTURE WEST

“You would expect that the State Government would provide schools as the population approaches 10,000 — the benchmark for a primary school is 7500 people,” she said.

“If it doesn’t happen then it’s very difficult to build a community and liveable place in the absence of local infrastructure like primary schools.

“They are the embryonic centre and are important for families to come together and for the community to grow. If that doesn’t occur then that could be disastrous for those living there.”

The DoE met with stakeholders in 2018 to come up with an 18-year plan — it predicts it will need an extra four to six primary schools and two to four high schools in the Upper Caboolture and Wamuran statistical areas, which encompasses Caboolture West, by 2036.

“The vast majority of population growth in these Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) is due to the

Caboolture West area,” a DoE spokesman said.

“Future new schools will be delivered to service this population growth and, although sites are yet to be acquired, the majority will be located with the Master Planned Area.

“The department will continue to support growth in the Caboolture West region through a combination of providing additional facilities at existing schools, and the establishment of new schools where they are required.”

ASX-listed developer AV Jennings has lodged a preliminary approval application with scope to build 8700 homes, which includes schools.

So far it has an agreement with the land owner for 3500 dwellings (roughly 8000-9000 people) as part of Phase 1, but it is unclear if it aims to rollout schools within that time frame.

An AVJ spokesman said it would not make comment until the end of its due diligence period.

Brisbane Catholic Education communications manager John Phelan said it could fast-track its plans for a college if development kicked off sooner than expected.

It would first need to find suitable land to purchase..

“Our forward plan is for a school in 2031,” he said. “The rider on that, when looking at something 12-13 years away, the date we talk about is quite flexible.

“At that sort of distance, the opening date can quite often vary depending on population numbers,

“We have to build schools in stages to match population growth … North Lakes is a good example of a community that has grown a bit faster than originally predicted.”

The council is continuing to work with the DoE for the future planning of schools in Caboolture West.

“The number of schools identified is based upon population triggers consistent with the State Government’s community facilities guidelines,” a spokesman said.

The region will also have its own TAFE once it is complete.