Islamic College of Brisbane buys land for $60m expansion
One of the state’s largest Islamic colleges has unveiled elaborate plans to expand including a 16-classroom block to provide accommodation for 400 students in 2025.
Redlands Coast
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One of the largest Islamic colleges in Queensland has revealed elaborate $60 million expansion plans.
The Islamic College of Brisbane has purchased a 3.6-hectare block of land neighbouring its current Karawatha campus as part of an ambitious 10-year investment totalling almost $60 million to secure its future.
The $6.6m land purchase complemented the $4.4m the college paid almost two years ago for another four hectares in nearby Allingham St to develop a new Secondary Girls Campus for 600 students.
ICB board chair Ismail Cajee said plans had also been approved for a new $10m, 16 classroom block to be built at the current Karawatha campus to provide accommodation for 400 students in 2025.
Mr Cajee said the foundations had “now well and truly been set in concrete for implementing the board’s 2023-2033 infrastructure vision”.
He said the investment would “future proof” the college and provide new infrastructure for up to another 2000 students.
The college, established in 1995, already supports a record 1600 students, which represented more than a 50 per cent increase since 2013.
“Through our Master Plan, the board is laying the foundations and boosting the facilities that our students need to help ensure they achieve the best success in life through a world-class education,” Mr Cajee said.
“The board is very conscious that turning this dream into reality will not impact on ICB’s financial ability to provide quality, affordable education.
“We want to ensure that any investment now will continue to generate positive outcomes for generations to come.”
Mr Cajee said the college planned to raise about $20m over 10 years to establish a childcare centre and other new infrastructure to support 900 extra students on the new $6.6m site, purchased in a private sale.
“We are delighted with the purchase of this large adjoining block because there is simply no other land available in our immediate area to support the development required for growth,” he said.
“It will take time to turn these plans into reality,” he said.
ICB CEO Ali Kadri revealed work on the new Secondary Girls Campus in Allingham St would begin within three years, with the planned $15m first-stage expected to open in 2028.
“From our youngest learners to those in their final years of high school, ICB students both now and for generations to come are set to benefit from new infrastructure and upgrades being implemented to cater for the unprecedented growth at the college,” Mr Kadri said.
“By the end of the next decade, the college will have spent $56 million on provisions and infrastructure in place across the three campuses to accommodate an early years to senior secondary student population which is expected to double by that time.”
The Islamic College of Brisbane board will continue to work with the school community to ensure the best facilities and modern education, Mr Kadri said.
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