Minister asks for ‘more advice’ about building $90m Brisbane school on flood plain
Education Minister Grace Grace has asked her department for “more advice’’ about building a new $90 million primary school on a westside site which went 2m under water in February.
South West
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The former Toowong Bowls Club remains the preferred site for a new $90 million state
school despite Education Minister Grace Grace confirming she had sought more advice from her department.
It comes as public consultation on the first new state primary school in Brisbane’s inner-west in six decades was quietly opened this week.
A draft concept design on the Department website showed three levels of classrooms would be built above the 11m flood line.
That is above a Q500 event — a flood so great its chances of happening in any given year are fewer than one in 500.
The siting of the school has been highly controversial after the government was forced to back down on its original proposal to co-locate it at traffic-choked Indooroopilly State High School.
But the Council-owned bowls club and adjacent Perrin Park went about 2m under water in February, and was severely flooded in 2013 as well.
It is also near a bat colony and a sewage pumping station which overflows in heavy rain.
“In light of the recent flooding events, the minister has asked the department for further
advice as part of standard due diligence,’’ a spokeswoman said.
“But the former Toowong Bowls Club remains the preferred location for a new $90 million state school for Brisbane’s inner west.
“As part of this process, the department is seeking feedback on the concept master plan for
the new inner west state school from April 18 to May 8.’’
Drop-in information sessions will be held on April 28 from 6–8pm and April 30 from 9am – 12pm at Ironside State School Hall, 2 Hawken Drive, St Lucia.
The public can also make online submissions.
Catchment details will be released in term 4 this year ahead of the school’s expected opening in 2024.
“The concept master plan for the new vertical school takes into account flood levels and positions all learning, administration and indoor areas 1.6m or more above the Q100 flood mitigation level,’’ the Department’s website said.
“This means proposed learning, administration and indoor areas will be at least 2m above the
official 2011 level, which reached 7m.
“A flood expert has conducted a school flood risk assessment and developed a flood risk management plan.
“When appointed, the Foundation Principal will implement the plan which will include school
evacuation plans to ensure the safety of students, their families, and staff.
“The concept design responds to the impacts of local creek flooding on the site and includes provision of flood-free access to Gailey Rd in a local creek flooding event.’’
Local LNP Councillor, James Mackay, urged Ms Grace and local state Greens MP Michael Berkman to “come clean with locals about whether they still want to build a school on the flood-prone former Toowong Bowls Club’’.
“Not only will it cost Queensland taxpayers millions of additional dollars to floodproof a new school at this location, the State Government and Mr Berkman must also be responsible for identifying and delivering replacement green space for residents, if the school does go ahead on the site,’’ he said.
“Mr Berkman’s decision to agitate for a school to be built on the bowls club site is a matter for him to explain.
“But the State Government is to blame for the lack of a suitable location for a new school because it failed to properly plan for the needs of our fast-growing community.
“Rather than more delays and obfuscation, our community deserves to know now whether the State is still planning a school on this flood-prone site.
“The State also must start work on identifying the site for our community’s next high school to avoid this farcical situation happening again.’’
Mr Berkman said Ms Grace’s “speculation’’ about revisiting the location was just that.
“To be honest it would be encouraging if it was true, especially if they’ve got an alternative site in Indooroopilly, Toowong or Taringa that would do the job, preferably a privately-owned site,’’ he said.
“I’ve got a long list of questions about flood risk, building design and transport which I’m raising with the Department this week, including seeking a copy of their Flood Risk Management Plan.
“I campaigned for all of 2021 to convince the State Government to buy a new privately owned site rather than building on existing public land (like Indooroopilly State High School or the Toowong Bowls Club).
“Now the Toowong site looks very likely to proceed, I’m asking the Council to use their substantial expected payout from the State government to help buy back the ABC site for a riverside park.’’
The Department’s website also said it would consider installing traffic lights at the corner of Heroes Ave and Gailey Rd to help with pedestrian and vehicle safety.
It also flagged recessed bus stops on Gailey Rd and a dedicated on-site “drop off” zone for students and parking for staff.
“Modified’’ construction methods would be used to limit impacts on the bat colony, and students and staff would be separated from the colony by roofing, shade and other structures.
There would also be bat safety education for staff and students.
A Pedestrian Movement Study is under way to review active travel requirements.
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