Top Brisbane boys’ school scales back major building program
Neighbours of one of Queensland’s leading boys’ schools are rejoicing after it scaled back a major expansion for the congested site.
South West
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Leading Catholic boys’ school St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace has dramatically scaled back plans for a huge expansion at its Spring Hill campus in inner-Brisbane.
Neighbours spoke out late last year when “Terrace’’ revealed plans for several new multistorey buildings, which neighbours claimed would double its floor area and add 90 learning spaces.
The proposal was brought under the controversial Ministerial Infrastructure Designation process, which bypasses Council laws and limits public rights of appeal.
Almost a dozen elite private schools, private hospitals and even the Queensland Reds have lodged MIDs in the past two years.
Under a revised masterplan put to the State Government, only one building, the “St Paul’s’’ building, would now go ahead, with an estimated completion date in 2024.
Principal Michael Carroll said the new plan was “realistic, affordable and addresses our improvement agenda’’.
“The original was a vision and without any timeline. The modified application is more realistic and has a timeline of three ot five years,’’ Dr Carroll said.
“Financial constraints meant that all the concepts of the original application could not be funded in a realistic timeline, if at all, whereas as the modified application can be funded in the desired timeline.
“We also listened to the community and heard their concerns.
“Despite emphasising that it was a visionary application, some saw it more as a reality.
“The modified application has listened to their concerns and adjusted accordingly.
“Our original application was never about a growth agenda but about providing quality facilities and improving facilities.
“Unfortunately some people did not accept this.
“The modified application clearly reinforces our position that the college does not have a growth agenda, rather we have an improvement agenda.’’
Terrace has put its revised proposal out for limited public consultation, including to the Spring Hill Community Group (SHCG) which lodged a 100-page objection to the original masterplan.
“It’s a step in the right direction, we’re very happy it’s been cut back to what it has,’’ a spokesman for the group said.
“But it also looks like they will not commit to a population cap.’’
Terrace presently has about 1702 students.
Neighbours are concerned it will keep growing, putting pressure on roads, parking and green space.
But Dr Carroll has previously said there was expected only to be a modest increase of about 50 students.
SHCG said it also had concerns about plans for pedestrian crossings to connect the school’s four campuses, not underpasses as they had hoped, and what it feared was encroachment on to neighbouring, heritage-listed Bedford Park in Quarry St.
“The plans show what appears to be stairs and a gate leading down to the park, so we are hoping they don’t plan to use it for lunch breaks or sports,’’ SHCG said.
“Any private open space should be on school land.
“We are also concerned traffic in surrounding streets will get even worse (without underpasses).’’
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