Top Brisbane school will soon be able to take 150 more students

It’s one of Brisbane’s best state primary schools and soon it will be able to take in 150 more students — by going up, up, up.

Milton State School Principal Paul Zernike with artist’s impressions of the new vertical classrooms. Picture: Richard Walker

Work started today on a “vertical’’ $12.4 million classroom block at Milton State School which will boost the popular school’s capacity.

Education Minister Grace Grace said contractor Paynters would start early works on site tomorrow, with construction to begin next week.

As well as improving flood resilience, the new classrooms would allow the landlocked school to take in an extra 150 students, boosting its capacity to 860.

The school has an enrolment management plan, which will remain in place after building is finished, which means only local-area students can enrol.

The Milton State School tennis courts will be moved to the back of the school and a three-level Junior Learning Centre will go up on the courts. Picture: Richard Walker

“This three-storey building will be a fantastic addition to the school, with the project supporting 37 local jobs,” Ms Grace said.

“It’s really pleasing to know that this project is keeping local tradies in the workforce which is crucial during these challenging times.

“The learning centre will feature six Prep classrooms, eight general classrooms, two outdoor learning areas and a Prep covered area.

“This is an exciting development for this inner-west school which has experienced rapid growth over the years.’’

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Principal Paul Zernike said the work, which would take about 12 months, would be on the Haig Rd frontage of the school, one of the oldest in Brisbane.

The tennis courts would be moved to the Baroona Rd side of the property, with an existing building there to be demolished to make way for the courts.

Although Milton has one of the smallest footprints of any school in Queensland, Mr Zernike said staggered lunch breaks would be unlikely as the student population grew because it had Council permits allowing children to use Gregory Park at lunch time.

Ms Grace said the flood mitigation works would provide relief for the school community.

“Milton State School experiences significant flooding across the grounds, which is why the Palaszczuk Government is also investing in a flood mitigation project,” she said.

“My Department consulted heavily with expert engineers and the school community to ensure it was the best solution going forward.

“New high-level walkways will be installed while Block C will be demolished to make way for the new learning centre.’’

During the 2011 floods nearby parts of Milton were under more than 3m of water, with extensive damage to Frew Park and shops at Rosalie Village.