Two new twists in westside primary school saga
The first new primary school in the westside in 60 years may be co-located with the state’s top school. But a bowls club site is out.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Toowong residents are gearing up for a fight to stop a new primary school being built next to an ecologically sensitive creek.
Save Toowong Creek’s John McMahon said an Education Queensland official told him EQ was actively considering two sites for the inner-west’s first new primary school in six decades.
One is on the grounds of Indooroopilly State High School, a proposal which has drawn the ire of nearby residents, the principal of St Peters Lutheran College and local politicians from all three levels of government.
Their main concern was the traffic impact on congested Lambert Rd.
The other site was on the grounds of the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology (QASMT), Mr McMahon said.
It comes as Council has confirmed the State Government has not approached it about another site mooted as a possibility, the former Toowong Bowls Club.
Cr James Mackay said the State Government had not approached him, as the local councillor, for comment about the club site being used as a school.
“I don’t know if they have approached Council directly, but no one has indicated they have,’’ he said.
“This site certainly has not been listed by State Government as an option.’’
Cr Mackay, who strongly opposed the Indooroopilly site, added: “Our main priority is ensuring safe travel around schools and we would welcome any solution that helps deliver this.’’
Local Greens MP, Michael Berkman, said Education Minister Grace Grace also confirmed to him at a February 28 meeting that one option was to convert the QASMT site into a primary school and move the academy to Coorparoo.
Mr McMahon said: “I was told they had considered moving QASMT to Coorparoo (Secondary College) and putting the primary school here, but the preferred option is to leave QASMT and build a primary school.
“They would remove the vegetation and use it as an ‘offset’ (to conserve bushland elsewhere).’’
Mr McMahon said Toowong Creek, which bordered the QASMT site, was a haven for the rare powerful owl, endangered tusked frogs and other significant wildlife.
He said Save Toowong Creek would explore judicial reviews and any other legal measures possible to stop clearing of more vegetation, saying that would breach recent amendments to the Nature Conservation Act governing breeding sites of significant species.
Neighbours waged a fierce campaign in the lead-up to the state election to stop what they feared would be a “prison style’’ fence around the school.
However, many westside residents support the idea, particularly if QASMT was to be moved to Coorparoo.
It currently has 1100 students, which was expected to rise to 1300. Many live far away and are driven to the school, which is 100 per cent selective and regularly tops Queensland’s tertiary admissions rankings.
Mr Berkman called on EQ to release vital information such as the Inner West Catchment Study, updated enrolment projections beyond 2024, details of alternative sites EQ has considered, details of where Indooroopilly and Ironside state school students currently come from, and analysis of future unit development impacts.
He said residents needed that information to come to an informed opinion.
He also wanted data on built capacity at surrounding primary schools (after currently funded upgrades) to be released.
“The Department’s consultation so far has been clunky, unfairly skewed, and lacking in sufficient information for residents to properly consider the proposed ISHS location and how it compares with other sites,’’ he said.
“My view, which I’ve made clear to the Department, is that they must publish additional information, then re-open consultation on a number of viable site options including QASMT, the SES Depot, Shell service station & some land near the former Toowong Bowls Club, and the Tricare site at Taringa.
“From feedback I’ve received over the last few months at my community meeting and pop-up offices, from an informal survey and hundreds of emails with local residents, it’s clear that while the additional primary school capacity is urgently needed, we’d rather see this done right than just done quickly.”
Quest Newspapers understands Education Queensland also approached the University of Queensland about moving QASMT to its St Lucia campus but dumped the idea after receiving a “high ball’’ offer.
An EQ spokesman said the Department “is currently considering all community feedback received from the consultation process, including possible alternative site options as part of the site selection process’’.
“Nothing has been ruled out or in at this point,’’ he said.
“Once complete, further information will be provided about the progress of the site selection
process for the new primary school.’’
LNP Shadow Minister for Education, Christian Rowan, spoke on the issue in Parliament last week.
“There is also the significant issue of inadequate and poor public consultation on infrastructure planning for the new Brisbane Inner West Primary School,’’ Dr Rowan told the House.
“Local residents of the western suburbs of Brisbane continue to raise with me their concerns regarding the lack of adequate transport planning and associated significant local traffic impacts, the loss of green space, and the loss of local suburb ambience.’’
Public consultation effectively closed before midnight on Sunday, February 28.
Residents had to apply to receive a survey and then submit it before midnight.
EQ later offered to give those who had applied for a survey on the weekend until last Friday (March 5) to submit their response.
Local residents have put together a petition about the issue which they will take to the State Government.
Puppy with slit throat left for dead beside major Qld highway
A rescue group is seeking help after a puppy was found on the side of a Queensland motorway with a slashed throat, following a “deliberate” act. WARNING: Distressing
Council, police evict 50 campers from city park
More than 50 people living in tents and vans have been evicted from a southeast Queensland park after police and council rangers enforced a final warning to vacate.