Central Park Varsity Lakes: Council opposes losing part of park for school expansion

Overcrowding at Gold Coast schools is having a big effect on local parks, with one park in particular under real threat of being overtaken.

THE Gold Coast City Council will send out a warning to Education Queensland to stop targeting its parks for school ovals and new buildings to help ease overcrowding on campuses.

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster has successfully launched the campaign after gaining the backing of all councillors at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

A motion acknowledges the limited public open space at Varsity Lakes and the significant council investment in Varsity Central Park.

Council Hermann Vorster has vowed to improve and protect council parks in the Varsity area which face impact from overcrowded schools.

CEO Dale Dickson is to write to the Education Department advising that “any proposal to further expand Varsity College into this public open space will not be supported by council”.

Cr Vorster said the Education Minister Grace Grace had given a commitment which protected the council asset, but he believed the Education Department had a “contrary view”.

Outside the meeting, he told the Bulletin: “To my understanding Varsity Lakes was always envisaged to have a high school integrated into the community. The historic decision makers saw fit to allow the State Government to forego school ovals, and expect the school to use nearby council parks for their recreation and sport.

“With the growth of Varsity College, those public open spaces have become overused, pushed to their limit, and the school’s use now encroaches on the community use.

“Because we can’t manufacture more open space, I have deliberately secured council funding to lift the community use of Central Park, beginning with the $350,000 outdoor gym and fitness centre. I’ve contributed $75,000 towards establishing new under cover weather-proof multipurpose courts. I’ve carried out extensive shade tree planting, which encourages people to use the distant corners of the space.”

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Cr Hermann Vorster. Picture: Richard Gosling.

FURY OVER PLANS TO DEVELOP VARSITY SITE NEXT TO SCHOOL

Cr Vorster said council workers as part of a $250,000 project had begun installing an irrigation system to convert the park into community sports fields.

“It will benefit the aspiring athletes at Varsity College but ensure the community are not left with an overused, dusty bowl. So that’s a lot of money which the Education Department contributed little or nothing,” he said.

He said he had received information which suggested the Minister’s view may be different to future planning by the departmental officers.

“My concern has been the relentless growth of Varsity College. It is unsustainable. I took some comfort from Minister Grace Grace who assured us that growth at Varsity College could be accommodated on its current footprint and pose no risk to pubic open space.

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“It now appears that is not the case. And there very well may be a push for Varsity College to encroach into Varsity Central Park. The move by me today is to send a laser-like message to the Minister that the community is relying on her promise and that there is no support for ratepayers to continue carrying the burden of Education Queensland.

“That’s not to say there are no opportunities to co-invest in projects that benefit us both. But when facilities are for the exclusive use of students, they should be built on Department of Education land and not public parks. What’s next? Classrooms at Pratten Park because Broadbeach State School is too crowded.”

The council oval is already the location for a performing arts centre, sports hall and car park for school staff.