Government to ‘reconsider’ Toowong bowlo site for new primary school

The State Government has effectively given up on building the first new westside primary school in six decades at a flood-plagued site, after a massive community backlash.

A floodprone, sewage-contaminated former bowls club and park, next to a bat colony, now looks unlikely to host the first new primary school in Brisbane’s inner-west in six decades.

Education Minister Grace Grace, who announced during the 2020 state election that a new school would be built, but did not reveal a site, released a statement on Tuesday night (August 23) effectively backing away from Perrin Park in Toowong.

The site, which includes the former Council-run Toowong Bowls Club, was left more than 2m under water in the February floods.

The area has a sewage pumping station which regularly overflows in heavy rain and is near a large colony of endangered greyheaded flying foxes.

Perrin Park in 2011. It flooded even deeper in February. Picture: Supplied

In April, Ms Grace revealed she had asked her department to investigate flood problems at the site.

“After the floods this year, I asked my Department to carry out further due diligence on whether the Toowong Bowls Club remained the best site for a new inner west primary school,’’ she said in the statement released late last night.

“In addition, the department sought community feedback on the concept master plan for the school from April 18 to May 8.

“I’ve been advised that feedback from both processes indicates that the inner west community is not supportive of the construction of a new school on the Toowong Bowls Club site.

“I am extremely conscious of taking this feedback into account, especially in light of the disastrous flooding which occurred in the area in late February.

Toowong Bowls Club closed in 2019. Picture: Richard Walker

“The consultation report is currently being finalised for consideration by the Government.

“I am also advised that enrolments across the inner west state school network have stabilised since the Detailed Business Case was completed in 2019 and this is something my Department is closely looking into.

“For example, at Ironside State School, enrolments have fallen from 1113 in 2019 to 1022 students in 2022 and at Indooroopilly State School, in 2022 there were 1364 students whereas enrolment predictions were 1430 students by 2022.

“At Toowong State School, enrolments have not matched forecasts with Prep enrolments down 20 per cent in the last three years.’’

Shadow Minister for Education, Dr Christian Rowan, whose seat of Moggill is west of the area, said residents were “now basically back at square one’’.

“It’s been a failed process from the start,’’ Dr Rowan said.

Nearby flooding in February. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The proposed location at the Toowong Bowls Club near Perrin Park was known to be a flood location.

“There have also been significant community concerns about traffic congestion, environmental impacts and a significant loss of green space, not only involving this location but other potential sites.

“The State Labor Government needs to be open and transparent on the next steps to address school enrolment growth in the western suburbs, what changes are expected in relation to current school catchments and what the State Government’s plan is to fix the mess created by the Labor Minister for Education.’’

Community group Protect Perrin Park, which waged a fierce campaign to block the new school being built, was delighted at the news.

Bats at Perrin Park Toowong. Picture: Des Houghton

“To my mind the site never made sense from any perspective,’’ group member Mark Cowan said.

“It’s good to see the government finally concede to the community’s expectations.

“The only access would have been at the lowest point — they were setting families up for anxiety every time there was a heavy rain event.’’

The department earlier this year revealed plans for a raised, “vertical’’ multi-storey school it said would have been above major flood levels.

But locals said Heroes Ave and other approach roads were routinely cut off in floods, including in February.

Mr Cowan said local roads already were congested, as well.

Right To Information documents obtained by Protect Perrin Park revealed none of the government’s 11 options involved buying a property, but instead were focused on local parks or other public assets.

Councillor James Mackay. Picture: Renae Droop

Local Councillor, James Mackay, who has long opposed a school at the site, welcomed the news in a speech at Council’s Tuesday meeting.

He thanked the community for their efforts to protect the area from a school, which was announced just as Council was preparing to reopen the defunct bowls club for community uses.

Cr Mackay said he also looked forward to consultations to determine a new, “better suited’’ site for a school.

The government’s initial option, to co-locate the primary school on the grounds of the nearby Indooroopilly State High School, was shot down after a massive backlash from residents concerned about pressure on already crowded Lambert Rd.

Suggestions to co-locate the new school at Toowong selective high school the Queensland Academy For Science, Mathematics and Technology, were howled down by the school’s P&C.