St Peters, football club take to field in fight against new school

Taringa Rovers and St Peters Lutheran College have joined the fight against the first new westside primary school in 60 years.

The Taringa Rovers football club has joined a growing band of opponents lining up to try to block the State Government’s proposed site for a new primary school.

St Peters Lutheran College head, Tim Kotzur, also spoke out about his concerns in a newsletter sent to parents.

In it he talked about traffic impacts and queried why only one option had been mooted by the Government.

It comes as the Government has quietly dropped the January 2023 planned opening date for the “vertical, 650-student school, the first new primary campus in the westside in six decades.

And the Government has meanwhile released details of four drop-in sessions about the plan.

Education Minister Grace Grace promised a new school during last year’s election campaign, but did not commit to a site.

Earlier this year education officials told residents one site it was looking closely at was on land owned by Indooroopilly State High School (ISHS).

Local LNP Councillor James Mackay, federal LNP MP for Ryan, Julian Simmonds, and state Greens MP for the area, Michael Berkman, have all lined up to object to the location.

The MPs and some residents, led by Peter Cain, said nearby Lambert Rd was already choked by traffic from ISHS, St Peters Lutheran College, Brigidine College and Holy Family Primary School.

Lambert Rd is also a major entry and exit point for the St Lucia peninsula and has a number of large residential towers at one end near Indooroopilly train station.

But Ms Grace said the Government was keen to work with the community and urged residents to visit the project web page.

An artist's impression of how the school might look.

“I would encourage local families and residents to take the opportunity to contribute to this $65 million investment in their local community and the future education of local children,” she said.

“The existing primary schools in the inner-west are constrained with regard to expansion and the area needs a new school to meet increasing enrolments.

“We want to work with the local community, so we get the best outcome for students and parents into the future.”

Mr Simmonds, who spoke against the proposed site in federal Parliament last week, said traffic was already a huge issue in the area.

Julian Simmonds delivering his Maiden Speech in the House of Representatives Chamber, at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

“The state Labor Government have neglected to invest in our local road infrastructure for decades,’’ he said.

“Now, with little consultation, they are proposing for a new primary school at Indooroopilly State High while offering local residents no plan for the surrounding roads which are already congested.

“While I agree with residents that there is a need for a new primary school to support our growing area, it is frankly ridiculous that yet again it comes with no commitment to upgrade our local roads to be able to cope with the additional cars that will be driving to and from the school in peak periods.

“Once again the State Labor Government have shown they do not understand the western suburbs and are willing to ignore the concerns of locals.

“I will be writing to Education Minister Grace Grace to seek an urgent meeting for myself and local residents to convey these concerns directly.’’

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The Rovers are encouraging members, via its Facebook page, to lodge submissions.

“Should this preferred option occur it may have significant impacts on the ability of Taringa Rovers to accommodate existing members, given that our club uses the existing the Indooroopilly State High School every Saturday during the season for our U9-U11 games,’’ it said.

“Further, the new primary school proposal will amplify the existing and increasing pressure on the use of Taringa Rovers’ own fields from the growth in our membership, increased population, increased student numbers in the existing schools that surround the club and the additional pressures from the new primary school.’’

Mr Berkman said it “seems like’’ the Education Department had quietly removed the proposed January, 2023 start date from its website.

Michael Berkman Greens MP for Maiwar. Picture: Annette Dew

“I have said repeatedly that it’s not worth rushing this process just to meet the Minister’s previously announced deadline — doing it right is better than doing it quickly,’’ he said.

“I’ve also communicated that message directly with the project team and the Education Minister’s office. I know some other local residents have been doing the same.

“It could be that all that pressure is paying off and the government may be quietly backing away from that deadline to allow time for proper consultation about the best location.

“Obviously we really need that new school, and it would have been better if the Labor Government had agreed to build it and started planning years ago.

“Now that the capacity issues at Ironside and Indooroopilly State School are looking urgent, any delay could mean some uncomfortable months that those schools.

“But, on balance, if the Government is genuinely willing to consider investing in an alternative site this could be good news.’’

Cr Mackay suggested in a Facebook post that the University of Queensland would be a far preferable site, given its large amount of vacant land and closeness to Sir Fred Schonell Drive.

Cr Mackay talking about the school site recently on radio.

“We know the primary schools in the area are bursting, but the new school must be built in the right spot,’’ he said.

“There’s no point putting the school in a place where the negative aspects outweigh the benefits.

“The four schools within 500m of Lambert Rd already have massive traffic issues.

“I spend a lot of time with the schools and the BCC traffic engineers developing traffic management plans, to try to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety. It’s an ongoing battle.

“I’ve suggested moving the Queensland Academy of Science, Maths, Technology to UQ and using that campus for a new primary school.

“Hopefully the education department at least considers the idea. We’ll see.

“We need to do everything we can for safety around schools. Making it worse isn’t very smart.’’

GOVERNMENT DROP-IN SESSIONS

Saturday February 13, 2-4pm

Indooroopilly State School Hall, Corner Moggill Rd and Russell Tce

Wednesday February 17, 4.30–7.30pm

Indooroopilly State High School Hall, 111 Ward St

Saturday February 20, 10am–1pm

Indooroopilly State High School Hall

Wednesday February 24, 3–6.30pm

Ironside State School Hall, 2 Hawken Drive, St Lucia

MR BERKMAN’S DROP-IN SESSIONS

Thursday February 11, From 6.30pm, Indooroopilly State High School Hall

Tuesday February 16, 9-10am, Avid Lounge, 82 Swann Rd, Taringa