800 get in early for new Catholic high school

More than 800 families have expressed interest in sending their children to a Catholic high school proposed for Brisbane’s North, and it hasn’t even been approved yet.

A new Catholic co-ed high school has been proposed for Fitzgibbon. Image: DTS Group Qld Pty Ltd report

MORE than 800 families have expressed an interest in a Catholic high school proposed for Brisbane’s North, more than two years before it is expected to open.

The Fitzgibbon Private Secondary College will cater for up to 900 students from Years 7-12, and is intended to open in semester 1, 2022.

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The school is proposed for a 5.76ha block at 441 Beams Rd, which is currently operated as a golf driving range and is zoned low-medium density residential.

An artist's impression showing the Beams Rd perspective for a Catholic high school proposed for Fitzgibbon. Source: Brisbane Catholic Education

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) communications manager John Phelan said there was strong demand for a coeducational Catholic secondary school in the mid-northern suburbs.

“The population of school-age children in the surrounding suburbs is expected to increase substantially over the next 20 years,” Mr Phelan said.

“The closest coeducational Catholic secondary schools are currently at Mitchelton and Petrie.

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“More than 800 families have already expressed interest in their children attending the new college.”

BCE has applied for a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) from the Planning Minister.

Mr Phelan said, if approved, the school would be built in stages as capital funding became available.

“We plan to open in 2022 with around 150 Year 7 students, and build up by one year level at a time, so the first Year 12 students would graduate at the end of 2027,” he said.

A new Catholic co-ed high school has been proposed for Fitzgibbon. Image: DTS Group Qld Pty Ltd report

The BCE proposal is for buildings ranging from one to three storeys, with the taller buildings orientated to the south, and a reduced height as the buildings get closer to homes to the north. Primary access will be from Carselgrove Ave.

The proposed campus will include:

■ A three-storey physical education hall and music and performance centre;

■ A two to three-storey learning centre and cafe;

■ Three two-storey classrooms;

■ Two two-storey speciality buildings;

■ Two one to two-storey speciality buildings;

■ A large oval and tennis courts;

■ Multiple pedestrian connection points to the existing bikeway along Cabbage Tree Creek;

■ Connection to pedestrian ingress/egress points, connecting to existing external bus stops and Carseldine train station;

■ New school set down/drop off area;

■ Staff parking, internal manoeuvring and turn around area;

■ Retention of vegetated buffer to north and northwest corner adjoining homes; and

■ Rehabilitated wetlands to the northeast.

An image showing the site layout for the Catholic high school proposed for Beams Rd, Fitzgibbon. Source: Brisbane Catholic Education

BCE is holding a community information session on Tuesday, October 29 between 4.30pm and 7.30pm at St Flannan’s Catholic Primary School hall, 420 Beams Rd.

At the session there will be an opportunity to view the site and facility plans, learn about the proposed curriculum offerings, discuss the enrolment process and timing, and meet BCE staff who are planning the new college.

Mr Phelan said BCE would contact local residents directly and there would be further information sessions held as the development proceeds over the next few years.

The MID consultation period ends on November 21 and BCE is seeking a decision in early 2020, with a firm cut-off of March 20, to ensure the school opens in 2022.