Push to stop ‘prison-style’ fence around elite school oval

More than 1000 people in just two days have signed a petition to stop a Brisbane academy fencing off an oval used by dog walkers.

Signs warning locals about plans to fence off the QASMT oval.

TOOWONG residents fear they will be locked out of a popular dog walking and cycling area if Brisbane’s top-performing school goes ahead with plans for a fence.

More than 1000 people have signed a Parliamentary petition launched last week which calls for a gate at the Vera St community garden to be opened and for ongoing access to the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology oval.

Last Friday QASMT reversed its decision to lock the gate, but said in a letter to neighbours that it would proceed with a fence, to be finished next month.

A fencing contractor was believed to have been on site on Tuesday marking out an alignment.

Resident Tim Walker said locals wanted to work cooperatively with QASMT but feared it would go ahead with a fence 2.1m high with “prison-style’’ gates, similar to a fence built around Corinda State High School which also stirred up anger among neighbours.

“This is the perfect opportunity for the school to show they want to engage with us,’’ Mr Walker said.

“We don’t have an angry mob mentality. We want to be solutions-based and are suggesting a compromise where the fence could be built closer to the school buildings.’’

Supplied map of the QASMT grounds showing the oval (D) used by dog walkers.

Some neighbours said they had been told the fence would be 2-3m inside the school boundary, along the southern side of Toowong Creek.

That would block an oval that has been a social hub for the West Toowong community for years, and stop students from riding their bikes to nearby Brisbane Boys College on the only flat, safe route in the area.

The 2018 State Government planning approval for the construction project did not include broader restrictions on community access and Infrastructure Minister Cameron Dick’s decision notice noted that, while use of the school by residents was managed by the principal, his understanding in making the designation was “that public access to the Vera St community gardens and other areas on site is not affected by the proposal”.

Neighbours have begun a letter-writing campaign to Education Minister Grace Grace and QASMT principal Kath Kayrooz.

But Ms Kayrooz said in a letter to residents last week that the fence was needed to protect against vandalism.

“As there has been an increase in vandalism incidents at the QASMT over the last six months, the Department has committed to providing security fencing for the academy, which is expected to be completed in late June,’’ she wrote.

An around-the-clock presence by security guards has also been in place since a protest by Extinction Rebellion and a fire at the construction site of new buildings.

The school also told residents last year that access would be limited during construction, which is catering for an expansion of the school to a full Year 7-12 campus.

A sign warning locals about plans to fence off the QASMT oval.

State Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, who launched the petition, said he was told of the plan to construct a high fence, within 2-3m of the school boundary, only last week.

“This would have serious long-term consequences for local residents’ access to and through the campus, especially for residents in Bywong St, Vera St, Souden St, Howitt St, Dampier St, Mossman St and Hunter St,’’ he said.

“Like local residents, I am pushing for a sensible balance between the needs of QASMT students and the longstanding community interests in local green space.

“Plenty of locals have suggested that the proposed fence could be moved to enclose just the school buildings, rather than the whole oval, which seems a reasonable compromise.

“Alternatively, a lower fence with accessible gates would still provide a clear signal that access to the oval during school hours is not permitted, while allowing ongoing access outside school hours.’’

LNP Councillor of for Walter Taylor, James Mackay, questioned how Mr Berkman could not have been aware of the fence plan earlier.

“He’s asleep at the wheel, too focused on issues in north Queensland,’’ Cr Mackay said.

“He should have been on top of this weeks ago, and negotiated a better outcome for the local community.

“Now he runs a petition to look like a good guy when he’s actually playing catch-up.

“I have written to the Minister asking for the fence to be reconsidered, preferably to allow access to the oval and at the very least provide access to the ‘track’.’’

THE QASMT EXPANSION SAGA

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LNP candidate for Maiwar, Lauren Day, said she supported residents’ desire to “reach an agreement that is suitable for all’’.

“This green space is also needed for mental health – something I feel is extremely important,’’ Ms Day said.

“Unfortunately, once again, the local Member only seems to be aware of the issue after the fact, even though this matter has been going on for months.’’

Long-term Toowong resident Di Cox said access to the oval had enriched the community.

“Over the years my family and I have been privileged to enjoy the open space of the school (the oval and Vera St Common) for ourselves and our pets, with the school’s blessing,’’ she said in a letter to Ms Grace and Ms Kayrooz.

“I believe the happy coexistence between the school and ‘locals’ has enriched our community, and certainly a draw card for our uniquely green inner-city location.

“I have been dismayed at the confrontational back and forth between the school and

local community since the beginning of the school expansion.

“I understand during construction that the school limited access to the grounds for safety, and I (and I believe the majority of the community) have been respectful of that.

“Yet I have found the heavy-handed approach of security guards (acting one can only presume at the direction of school leaders) shortsighted.

“This behaviour has done little to carry forward the positive relationship that was once enjoyed between the two parties; rather, it fosters hostility.

“The proposal from the school to construct a fence to keep out the community from

valuable green space I find counter-productive and hostile.’’

Ms Cox said the area’s high density and lack of green space, as well as the fact that QASMT was a state funded school, was further reason to allow locals to access the grounds after school hours.

“Are we as taxpayers expected to pay a substantial sum from the public purse to

keep locals out of a valuable green community space?’’