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Parents at Brisbane State High School have urged the state government to scrap plans to build residential towers on a prime parcel of inner-city land, calling instead for the former factory site in their catchment to be turned into playing fields.
The government-owned land on the former Visy site – at one stage slated to become a broadcasting hub during the Olympics – went to tender for residential development in mid-October.
But State High P&C president Chris Dutkowski said so many new homes being built in the catchment would strain enrolments at the partially selective school.
Brisbane State High School is predicted to surpass 3800 students by 2029.Credit: Brisbane Times/Dan Peled
“With recent rezoning and major development plans in West End, and no corresponding plan from Education Queensland, the future capacity of Brisbane State High School is uncertain,” Dutkowski posted on the association’s social media on Thursday.
Just over 2200 students live within State High’s catchment, and 92 per cent attend the school, which is required to accept local students because of its state school status.
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It offers about 1000 extra places through selective-entry programs for academic, sporting, and cultural excellence.
Dutkowski said the school community had “long advocated for playing fields for State High students”, which he said the Visy site could accommodate.
“It now appears the site may instead be sold for a development of approximately 4000 residential units – with no clear plan for additional school infrastructure,” he said.
“The school is already under significant enrolment pressure, and current government projections suggest an additional 8000 to 10,000 residents will move into the area over the next 15 years.”
The Education Department said the school had a maximum capacity of “some 3000 students”, although more than 3500 are currently enrolled. Enrolments were predicted to hit 3851 by 2029.
An artist’s impression of how the Visy site in South Brisbane may look when redeveloped.
The 7.1-hectare Visy site – about one kilometre from State High – was previously earmarked for the Brisbane 2032 International Broadcast Centre. Those plans were scrapped after the state’s 100-day Olympic review.
It was once also eyed for parkland in what backers, including Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, had dubbed “South Bank 2.0”.
It is among several land parcels in West End and South Brisbane that have raised concern for locals, who worry there is insufficient community infrastructure for potentially thousands of new residents.
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The area is covered by a municipal planning instrument that enables residential buildings to reach city heights at select locations.
Gabba ward councillor Trina Massey said the Visy site sale was effectively “locking families out” of classrooms, green space, and community facilities.
“There is clearly no plan to meet our community’s education needs today, and no vision for the classrooms and facilities families will need in the future,” she said.
West End State School has almost 1500 students enrolled – almost triple the average of a primary school in Brisbane.
“With West End State School and Brisbane State High buckling under enrolment pressure, families and children will pay the price,” Massey said.
The State High P&C planned to meet early next week to organise its next step to fight the proposed development.
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