State Government, developers earmark Highfields near Toowoomba for new primary school within next decade

It’s one of the region’s fastest-growing communities that currently has just one state primary school. Now the government and developers say it needs a second and a location has been suggested.

One of the Toowoomba region’s fastest-growing communities will need a new primary school within the next 10 years and possibly as early as 2026.

Both the state government and key developers are weighing up the potential locations for another public school in Highfields, which is expecting to add another 5000 residents over the next decade.

Highfields is one of the two fastest-growing areas in and around Toowoomba, based on census data and Toowoomba Regional Council projections.

In response to a question from Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts in parliament, Education Minister Grace Grace said 2019 meetings with the council had concluded a new school “may be required” by 2031.

However, Ms Grace said there were no formal plans for a new campus at this point.

“The department conducts ongoing analysis for school planning and is actively involved in

cross-sectoral demand mapping activities through the Queensland Schools Planning

Reference Committee (the committee),” her response read.

“The committee is planning to revisit these findings once the updated Queensland population

projections are released in 2023.

“As at February 2022, Highfields State School has 712 students and has built capacity for 998

students.

“There are currently no new state schools planned for the Highfields area, and the department

has not prioritised the acquisition of a site for a new primary school at this time.”

Prominent Toowoomba developer Stephen Bowers, who is one of several people contributing to Highfields’ rapid growth with new housing such as at the Avenues of Highfields, argued 2031 was too far away.

This is supported by an Urban Economics report commissioned by him, which concluded a primary school should be built by 2026 to cater for a staged introduction of different year levels.

The report by Kerrianne Meulman said Highfields and the wider catchment would see primary-aged state school enrolments rise from 875 children in 2021 to 1100 by 2031, and 1185 pupils in 2036.

“This is much larger than any current school population in the Toowoomba area, and certainly much larger than any neighbouring schools,” Ms Meulman wrote.

“A school population of this size would make Highfields SS one of the largest primary schools in Queensland.

“It is recognised that this may be spread across Geham and Highfields state schools, noting that Highfields State School is already an enrolment managed school.”

The strong population growth recorded in Highfields, together with the predominance of suburban, family housing, makes a compelling case that there will be future demand for a second state primary school in the area.

“The optimal timing for the establishment of a second primary school is around 2026 such that additional year levels can be opened/staged with catchment growth.”

Mr Bowers said an ideal location would be land be near the existing Highfields Sports Park to the north.

“There is a good deal of logic in locating the new primary school adjoining the Highfields Sports Park on Cabarlah Park Road,” he said.

“Direct access to playing fields and courts is a real bonus and water supply and sewer connections are available.

“All the land surrounding is designated for residential — this is where future growth is going to happen.”

Mr Bowers’ Avenues of Highfields development is also not far from the suggested location.