You’re not serious: claims school consultation was a sham

Education Queensland was not serious about other sites for the inner-west’s first new primary school in 60 years, two MPs say.

Education Minister Grace Grace and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tour a Indooroopilly State High School construction site. Claims have emerged that the government was not serious about other sites for a new primary school. Picture: Liam Kidston

Documents appear to show education officials had decided where to build a Brisbane primary school even before they began public consultation, MPs and residents say.

Right To Information documents obtained by resident Ben Jardine also warned that co-locating the school on the Indooroopilly State High School (ISHS) site would be politically risky.

The primary school, a state election promise, would be the first in the inner-west in six decades.

It would address chronic overcrowding so bad that students at nearby Ironside State School have to play outside in shifts.

The heavily redacted documents pointed out that no funding for land acquisition would be required if the school was built on the ISHS site.

It also referred to “moderate risks’’ including “challenging stakeholder negotiations, limited site availability requiring a vertical solution with increased cost and build time, and significant community/political visibility.’’

Public consultation on the possible location for the school was held in January and February and included an online survey and face-to-face feedback sessions.

But Mr Jardine said it appeared from the RTI documents that the Department had decided as early as September, 2018 that it would not acquire land for the new school.

Indooroopilly locals have waged a vocal media campaign, set up a Facebook group, organised petitions, fence signage and other action.

They say the traffic impact of an estimated 900 extra students on congested Lambert Rd, which is used by four existing schools, would be enormous.

After suggestions the new school be sited on the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology campus in Toowong, QASMT parents staged a rally and presented a petition with more than 4000 signatures to state Parliament.

QASMT students and parents strongly opposed locating a new primary school on their campus, or shifting QASMT to Coorparoo. Students Laura Boyle, Archie Mukherjee, Jackson Huang, Grace Solas and Madison Phillips at a nanotechnology session.

Opposition Education Minister, Christian Rowan, said the RTI “highlights the deficient community consultation’’.

“This intent of the Labor Government was seemingly made without adequate consideration of local impacts, including the absence of proper traffic modelling and planning, as well as what appears to be an unwillingness to undertake comprehensive community consultation,’’ Dr Rowan said.

“The Government must urgently conduct a stocktake of potential, suitable localities, in order to identify appropriate locations for a new Brisbane Inner West Primary School, before proceeding with full and proper community consultation.

“The proposed site of Indooroopilly State High School is highly inappropriate, as is any consideration to relocate the Queensland Academy of Science, Mathematics and Technology.

“It is absolutely crucial for local residents that the Government gets this right.

Greens MP Michael Berkman says the Government needs to properly consider all alternatives. Picture: Dan Peled

“The selection of a location must take into consideration the associated impacts with respect to both current and future state high school infrastructure for the western suburbs, including Indooroopilly State High School, Kenmore State High School, and Centenary State High School.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said community consultation for the new school was “ongoing and the location is yet to be determined’’.

“The department is considering feedback on the new school’s possible location on part of the Indooroopilly State High School site,’’ they said.

“It is also investigating the feasibility of alternative sites nominated through this public consultation.

“The department manages a land acquisition program of more than $200 million to acquire sites for new schools.

“There will be further opportunities to provide input and the department will continue

to keep the community informed as planning progresses.’’

Dr Christian Rowan. Picture: Liam Kidston

Last month Education Minister Grace Grace announced that the Department would consider alternatives such as the Taringa TriCare site and Perrin Park, Toowong, and consult the Government Land Register.

Greens MP for the area, Michael Berkman, said the community deserved to be genuinely consulted.

“Not only does the community deserve a say in principle, but they have valuable insights to offer the Department,’’ he said.

“Locals know what it’s like to try to drive down Lambert Rd at 3pm, they know where it’s safe for kids to cross the street, which suburbs are growing and which schools are overcrowded.

“Months after the Department committed to release information that should underpin site selection, like current enrolment mapping and enrolment predictions, we’re still waiting for some transparency.

Artist's impression of how the new school might look.

“Residents want to work with the State Government on this decision.

“Keeping them in the dark is just making this whole process harder.”

Mr Berkman also called on the Government to include funds to acquire new land for the school in the upcoming Budget.

“From my engagement with the local community, it’s clear to me that most residents want to see the Government acquire land for the new school, rather than putting it on existing school sites like ISHS or QASMT,’’ he said.

“The Minister says they’re finally considering alternative sites, which is great — it shows they’ve felt the community pressure.’’

He has also suggested the Government and Council investigate ways to alleviate congestion on Lambert Rd, including facilitating active and public transport.