Tag: Inner City Education

Proposed Site for New Inner South Gets Low Mark from Locals

A group of inner south locals are not happy about the possibility of constructing the new inner city south high school at Dutton Park.

The Ecosciences Precinct in Dutton Park is the State Government’s preferred site for the much awaited secondary school promised for residents of the Brisbane’s inner south. However, some residents are opposing the idea.

Read: New Dutton Park School to Help Address School Overcrowding in Inner City

Petition

A newly formed group, the Inner South Education Coalition (ISEC), is one group that is actively opposing the possible selection of the Dutton Park site. In their Change.org petition, they enumerated several issues should the Dutton Park site be chosen. One is the access and safety of children coming to and from the school. There is also concern about the insufficient access to green space as well as the lack of relief for Brisbane State High School enrolments.

The group believes that should the school be built in Dutton Park, then students would be travelling from West End and South Brisbane along dangerous main transport arteries of Annerley Road, Dornoch Terrace and Gladstone Road.

Proximity is another issue. In 2021 when the new school opens, there would be more than 1,700 students living within 1 km active travel zone of the two other sites being considered, Kurilpa and Davies Park. In contrast, the Dutton Park site would be 1 km away to only about 480 students.

Based on statistical data, the group thinks that five years after the new school opens, there would be some 1,500 students within catchment boundaries who will not have access to a public high school in 2026.

Better Alternative

The Queensland Government is choosing among Dutton Park, Kurilpa Point and Davies Park to build the new school. For the state government, the Dutton Park site provides the best option considering land ownership, cost, site constraints and impacts, access to transport and partnership opportunities.

For the ISEC, the Davies Park site provides a better opportunity for a larger new high school that can keep up with population growth. The site also provides safe active travel options and better access to mass transport.

The group believes that the site would be a better investment as it would be in an area where it is most needed, based on population projections.

Read: West End State School to be Expanded, Two New Schools Opening in Inner City

Read:  West End Apartment Boom Causing Public School Overcrowding

Community Consultation

The state government is still in the process of consulting the community about the site for the new school. Some consultation sessions have been completed. But those who wish to send their feedback can do so by completing the feedback form or by sending an email to BuildingFutureSchools@qed.qld.gov.au.

Residents have until Monday 30 April 2018 to send their feedback.

West End State School to be Expanded, Two New Schools Opening in Inner City

Inner city Brisbane locals are soon to see their wish for additional schools become a reality, with two new schools set to be built and West End State School slated to be expanded.

The positive news was announced by the Queensland government, which is allotting $500 million for the three projects. This is in response to the clamour of parents in the inner city area for additional schools as current schools are over their capacity. The budget falls within the Building Future Schools Fund of the government.

Part of the plan is the use of the former site of Fortitude Valley State School, which was previously planned to be sold. A new school will be constructed on that site and classes should start by 2020. This school will be built in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology.

A new location is yet to be determined for the other new school planned to be built in the inner-south. This will be delivered with the help of the University of Queensland. Once built, it would become an alternative to Brisbane State High School.

West End State School will also receive funding for its expansion to accommodate an increasing number of students. The plan involves the purchase of a lot parallel to the school, on Horan Street. This lot will be used for the additional classrooms.

Responding to Population Growth

The $500-million fund is a direct response of the government to the long-standing education issue in the inner-city area.  Parents have been expressing concern over the inadequate number of schools to meet the demand of a growing population in the area.

The stronger demand for schools is a result of the rapid increase in the number of apartments in the area. In fact, a large number of students in the inner city area was found to be living in apartments.

Read:  West End Apartment Boom Causing Public School Overcrowding
Read:  How the Apartment Industry in West End is Causing Problems for Schools

Because of the lure of the inner city in terms of lifestyle and the quality of education, people from the outer suburbs are trading their houses for apartment life in the inner city.

Each of the two new schools will have a capacity of 1,200 to 1,500 students, while West End State School will increase capacity from 952 students to 1,500 students.