Toowoomba Christian College plans new prep buildings to cater for extra students at Highfields campus

A Toowoomba region private school, ranked as one of the best in Queensland, has lodged plans with the council to expand its campus.

A top-performing private school just north of Toowoomba has proposed an expansion of its junior campus facilities.

Toowoomba Christian College in Highfields has lodged plans with the council to build a new prep classroom block to cater for 25 students.

According to the report by Precinct Urban Planning’s Paul Kelly, the 200 sqm single-storey building would include one general learning area, staffroom, student amenities and storeroom.

“The construction methodology will be consistent with surrounding buildings and will use a suspended slab,” the report said.

“The built form will be consistent with the adjacent buildings including the music facility and will comprise a split-skillion sheet-metal roof with face-brick external wall cladding.”

Planned extensions to Toowoomba Christian College.

Another 14 sealed car parks have also been planned for the school’s parking lot.

If approved, the extension would see the school’s student population grow to 825, with a staff size of nearly 100.

Reports were also lodged relating to traffic impacts, effluent treatment and stormwater management, with the all reports arguing the proposal would not significantly impact surrounding residents and landholders.

“The proposed development has been designed to ensure it does not adversely impact on

the surrounding environment or the safety of people/property as a result of natural hazards,” the report said.

“The development will not generate adverse impacts on surrounding residential amenity and

existing access and parking arrangements ensure the development will not result in traffic

safety or circulation issues for the surrounding road network.”

Planned extensions to Toowoomba Christian College in Highfields.

The proposal is code-assessable, meaning the school won’t be required to run any public notification campaign to secure approval.

The application comes more than two years after it planned temporary classrooms to keep up with demand for student placements.

Toowoomba Christian College was established in 1979 as Toowoomba Christian Academy, before merging with three other schools in 1988, catering to students from prep to year 12.

It was named one of Queensland’s top 50 schools by independent specialist schools website Better Education.