Parents outraged by plans for boarding house overlooking Woodridge State School

Plans to build a boarding house overlooking prep classrooms has triggered outrage from Logan parents and residents.

Woodridge State School.

Parents of a Logan primary school say their concerns about construction of a boarding house, overlooking the school prep classrooms, have been ignored.

Woodridge State School parents and residents of Flinders St at Logan Central say they were not consulted before work started on the two-storey boarding house, which will overlook school grounds.

Developer Corenta moved to allay parents’ fears and said the housing would not be male-only, as had earlier been thought, and there was no intention for this development to be used as a halfway house for ex-prisoners.

“The developer does not know who in the local community started these rumours,” the spokesman said.

“Approvals have not been sought or gained for the property to be used in this way.

“Once complete, the intent is for the modern, fully-furnished rooming accommodation studios to be advertised for rent on Realestate.com.

“It is highly likely that the individuals who are accepted as tenants will be employed and have good references.

“Rooming accommodation is becoming a popular rental alternative for singles, with hundreds being built in Brisbane suburbs in recent years due to Brisbane City Council’s planning regulations,” the Corenta spokesman said.

Flinders St resident and father Nickalas Stewart, who rents the property sandwiched between the development and the school, said parents had been denied the right to complain and said he was concerned about child safety.

“It’s a disgrace that residents do not have the right to have a say about what businesses are located next door in a residential street that includes a primary school,” he said.

“Residents were not notified about this and we have not been told what to expect so we are concerned.

“The block is only small and there is not enough parking as it is, and now they have erected temporary fencing which leaves my place open to the construction site.”

The block of land is marked by a yellow dot within the red circle which outlines part of Woodridge State School. Picture: Contributed

Under the Logan Planning Scheme, such developments do not require high-level assessments or public input.

Flinders St homeowner Mark Errington said he believed a boarding house would devalue properties in the area.

“It will be detrimental to property prices and this type of establishment should not be right next to a school where there are young children.”

It is not the first time Flinders St residents have battled plans for housing projects in their street.

The vacant block of land backs on to Woodridge State School. Picture: Judith Kerr

In 2019 they waged a war against a developer building two seven-storey residential tower blocks on the same site, with residents claiming it was a step towards making way for a modern civic centre.

Those tower block plans were later ditched along with the council and state government plans to relocate the two nearby schools to make way for the civic centre.

The latest plans for the two-storey boarding house were launched by developer Corenta and were approved by Logan council in February and did not require public notification.

Approval is for short-term accommodation of up to three months with facilities similar to serviced apartments, along with 11 units for long-term rentals.

Corenta bulldozed the site and started ground works in May after Logan Council officers held a preliminary lodgement meeting and ruled that an onsite manager must reside on the premises.

Flinders St resident and parent Nickalas Stewart said he was concerned about plans for a boarding house overlooking the primary school. Picture: Contributed

Parents and residents whose properties back onto the school were also told that a 3m fence would be erected along the boundary.

However, the council-approved plans only stipulate a 1.8m fence.

“There are five carparking spaces, including one disability space, all at the front of the site – but the block is too small and the street is already congested at school times,” Mr Stewart said.

“I think it will be dangerous but residents’ views will not be considered and we have no way of validly lodging our concerns.”

A council assessment report said the application confirmed that no referral to additional agencies was required, and “all necessary documentation, including relevant plans and environmental considerations, has been submitted. This includes details on existing easements and potential impacts on local infrastructure.”

An Education Department spokesperson said the Department did not have authority over council land or projects.

“The safety and wellbeing of students and staff is the Department’s highest priority. Parents

with concerns are encouraged to speak with their principal in the first instance,” the spokesperson said.

“The Department of Education does not have authority over council land or projects.

Questions regarding council developments should be directed to the Logan City Council.”

Woodridge State School principal Julie Canham was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Parents outraged by plans for boarding house overlooking Woodridge State School