Queensland Election 2017: Deputy Premier promises new school as she fights for her political life

JACKIE Trad has announced the exact location of Brisbane’s first inner-city high school to be built in more than 50 years – as she fights to keep her South Brisbane seat.

South Brisbane MP Jackie Trad at the land at Dutton Park secured by Labor as public space with the intention of building a new high school. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

BRISBANE’S first inner-city high school in more than 50 years will be built at Dutton Park, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Jackie Trad will announce as she fights to keep her South Brisbane seat.

Facing a Greens onslaught that could see her turfed from office, Ms Trad has revealed the Palaszczuk Government has bought land next to Dutton Park State School, between the Ecosciences Precinct and Park Road Station, to fulfil her education promise.

Infrastructure and Planning Minister and Member for South Brisbane Jackie Trad at the land at Dutton Park secured by Labor as public space with the intention of building a new high school. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

“I had to act quickly to secure this land so it could remain public land and as a possible school site option,” Ms Trad told The Courier-Mail.

However, she said the community would be given final say over whether it was the best site for the Year 7 to 12 school, set to open in 2021 in partnership with the University of Queensland.

“If it’s decided that the site is not appropriate for a school, I think it should be turned into public green space,” she said.

The Ecosciences Precinct at Dutton Park and the vacant land beside it, which has been touted as a potential high school site. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

Ms Trad said the site was chosen because it was close to public transport and world-class science facilities and expert advice was provided by independent infrastructure body Building Queensland.

“This site is close to a future key interchange of Cross River Rail,” she said.

“However, before any decisions are made, I am completely committed to consulting with the community.”

She said a new school would be built by a re-elected Labor government, even if a new site had to be found.

The announcement follows a The Courier-Mail Galaxy poll showing Greens challenger Amy MacMahon has edged into the lead in South Brisbane, with shrinking support for both major parties shattering Ms Trad’s comfortable margin of almost 14 per cent.

Greens candidate for South Brisbane Amy McMahon has a lead in the polls over incumbent and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad. Picture: Lachie Millard

Both Ms Trad and Ms MacMahon have acknowledged education is a key issue voters are raising, as a boom in apartment living puts pressure on enrolments at the sought-after Brisbane State High School.

Brisbane State High School is experiencing pressure on enrolment levels as the population in the school’s catchment zone increases.

The Education Department has even required legal evidence of student’s eligibility as some parents lie about their living arrangements to attend the high-demand school.

LNP education spokeswoman Tracy Davis derided the promise as “a desperate attempt to buy votes” and said there was no guarantee the school would be built in time.

Originally published as Queensland Election 2017: Deputy Premier promises new school as she fights for her political life