Fury at possible site for new westside primary school
Locals are furious after the Government revealed its suggestion for a possible site for the first new primary school in decades in this Brisbane area.
South West
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The first new primary school to be built in Brisbane’s inner-west in six decades could be sited on the grounds of Indooroopilly State High School.
The suggestion has infuriated some residents and local politicians, who say adjacent Lambert Rd is already gridlocked at school pick-up and drop-off.
Two large Brisbane private schools — St Peters Lutheran College and Brigidine College — are on or near Lambert Rd.
The State Government has also been encouraging medium-rise unit projects at the railway station end of the road, exacerbating traffic.
The Government emailed residents on the weekend to ask them for their input on the ISHS option, which could be built near the corner of Ward and Carnarvon streets.
It will hold four in-person “drop in’’ information sessions throughout February.
The survey is open until February 28.
Residents have already set up a Facebook group to coordinate their opposition — STOP SCHOOL 5 — and vowed to fight the plan.
The school is likely to be “vertical’’ — possibly three or more stories high — due to the likely small size of any site.
It is understood early plans would leave two existing ovals untouched. The main oval is very popular with locals who use it as an unofficial dog offleash area.
The new school was announced with great fanfare during last year’s state election, leading to speculation about where it could be built as few suitable sites are left in the westside.
“As part of the Queensland Government’s commitment to relieve enrolment pressures at primary schools in Brisbane’s inner west, a new school is needed to provide additional capacity within the local network to ensure all families who wish to send their children to local state schools are able to do so,’’ the survey read.
“The Department of Education has investigated options to deliver a new facility to service the communities currently being served by Ironside State School and Indooroopilly State School.
“The investigation included expanding existing schools, acquiring additional land to deliver new facilities and/or using part of the site of the Indooroopilly State High School.
“After reviewing these options, the investigation identified building a new primary school on the site of the existing Indooroopilly State High School site is a possible option.’’
It said the ISHS site had access to play/green space, offered large cost and time savings and was near overcrowded Ironside and Indooroopilly state schools.
Ironside is so cramped students have staggered lunch breaks because they can’t all fit safely in the playground at one time.
The Government is believed to want to award a building contract before the end of the year, putting huge time pressure on its search for a site.
Education Minister Grace Grace said the first stage was about the new inner-west school’s location, with further feedback opportunities to come later about elements such as master planning, school design, catchment, school naming.
“I‘d 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.”
The site consultation will run for 12 weeks until February 28.
An online survey is now live, with in-person drop-in sessions to run next month at Indooroopilly State, Ironside State and Indooroopilly High Schools. Drop-in session details will be published on the project webpage.
The new primary school is scheduled to open in 2023. The school is proposed to have general learning areas, specialist spaces, multimedia spaces, special education facilities and outdoor learning areas.
State Greens MP for the area, Michael Berkman, said he had asked Education Queensland to “keep looking’’ because of the traffic impacts and travel time for families living on the Indooroopilly side of the proposed catchment.
“Based on my conversation with (the Department) the school will likely be built on the western side of the site near the corner of Ward and Carnarvon streets,’’ Mr Berkman said.
“It seems obvious the Government wants to build on this site because it will be cheaper and easier for them to meet their own January, 2023, deadline (to open the new school).
“My position is that doing this right is more important than doing it quickly.
“Securing the best location will help our community for decades so I’ll be urging the Government to make sure we don’t rush the process for the sake of sticking to the Minister’s (Ms Grace) deadline.’’
THE PRIMARY SCHOOL SAGA SO FAR
Consultation to start in January
Government sets aside $65 million in State Budget
Two westside suburbs flagged for site
LNP councillor for Walter Taylor, James Mackay, said the area was growing and it was good for families to have schooling options.
“In saying that, I look forward to seeing the designs and plans and will stand up for our community to ensure what is planned will bring a benefit to the area,’’ he said.
Mr Berkman said residents had suggested several alternatives including the former Sullivan & Nicolaides pathology property in Seven Oaks St, Taringa, where Tricare wants to build a highly controversial highrise retirement village.
Other alternatives included the Mazda/Mercedes dealership on the corner of Harrys and Moggill roads in Taringa, the Sci-Fleet Toyota dealership on Moggill Rd and the SES depot and Shell service station in Brisbane St, Toowong.
Mr Berkman said the Department considered, but rejected, building on Moore or Guyatt parks and had canvassed the Seven Oaks St site as well.
It also ran the ruler over a vacant block on the corner of Swann and Moggill roads, however earthworks for a ColesLocal small format supermarket and liquor outlet began on that block last year.
State LNP MP for Moggill, Dr Christian Rowan, who has long campaigned for new schools in his seat, tweeted this morning that “any selected site must not exacerbate traffic congestion’’ and ensure rigorous consultation.
“Labor’s record is failed SEQ regional planning, particularly for roads, public transsport and schools in the western suburbs,’’ he said in the tweet.
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