Toowong Bowl’s Club Archives

It’s Official: A New Inner-West Primary School Will No Longer Be Built at the Former Toowong Bowls Club Site

Photo credit: Facebook / Councillor James Mackay

It’s official. After deliberations and community consultation, the former site of the Toowong Bowls Club site that suffered damage during the 2011 and 2022 floods has officially been declared an unsuitable venue for a new primary school.

Education Minister Grace Grace confirmed on 15 March 2023 that the former Toowong Bowls Club site is no longer suitable for a new primary school following unprecedented flooding and community consultation. The confirmation comes as the State Government announced its stabilising enrolment changes school timetable.

“Stabilising enrolments means there is currently capacity for around 600 extra students in the existing local state schools. A new state school is therefore not required as soon as anticipated,” the announcement states.

The government will review the original pre-COVID business to determine when and where a new primary school should be built. Whilst this review goes underway, school communities at Indooroopilly, Ironside and Toowong State Schools will benefit from new and upgraded facilities including additional student capacity where needed.

“The Palaszczuk Government has a proud record of delivering educational infrastructure when and where it is needed,” Ms Grace said.

“Good governments are constantly reviewing what needs to be done and where, and it’s clear some of our new schools aren’t needed as quickly as was predicted a few years ago.

“Low birth rates from 2017 onwards, as well as a significant reduction in overseas enrolments due to COVID, means enrolments have stabilised and growth pressures have eased in some areas.

“We are prioritising opening new schools where they are needed, and ensuring best value for taxpayers in what is an incredibly challenging construction market impacted by the rising costs and labour shortages we’ve seen since the pandemic.

“We’ve faced curveballs from unprecedented flooding in Brisbane’s inner west and changes to federal koala protection laws. Stabilising enrolments mean we can now take the time to secure more suitable sites in the inner west and Park Ridge, safe in the knowledge that with upgrades – some of which are already taking place – our existing schools have capacity to accommodate students in the meantime.”

Councillor James Mackay in his social media post said that he will now be pushing for Council to have the former Toowong Bowls Club site refurbished and to push forward with its plans to reopen the facility for community use and public space.

Published 17-March-2023

Plans for New Inner West Primary School in Toowong Being Reconsidered

Plans to build a new inner west primary school at the former site of the Toowong Bowls Club are being reconsidered due to several concerns raised by locals, such as flooding and environmental impact.

Read: Should the New Inner-West Primary School Be Built at the Former Toowong Bowls Club Site?

Plans for New Inner West Primary School

In December 2021, the Queensland Government announced that the former Toowong Bowls Club near Perrin Park has been earmarked for the new primary school, making it the first inner suburban primary school to be built in Brisbane in more than 60 years.

Previously, the Education Department had said that the two rounds of community consultation and significant studies point to the former bowls club as the preferred site and that it is a great location for the proposed new school.

Photo credit: Queensland Department of Education

Based on plans, a three-level classroom would be built above the 11m floodline, with main access to be located on Heroes Ave. It was anticipated to open in 2024 and will cater to Prep to Year 6 students.

The State Government is investing $90 million towards the new school and construction will support more than 200 jobs for the local economy.

Local Feedback

In a radio interview with ABC Radio Brisbane, Education Minister Grace Grace said she was extremely conscious of negative feedback from the community, especially following the disastrous flooding earlier in 2022.

During the floods earlier this year, the former Toowong Bowls Club was left more than 2 metres under water. Several streets nearby, such as Josling St, were also closed due to flooding.

Aside from listening to the concerns of the community, Ms Grace also asked the department to study the flood problems at the site. Other concerns raised, aside from flooding, included traffic congestion and significant loss of green space, as well as impact on the flying fox colony located in Perrin Park.

Greens MP Michael Berkman welcomed the department’s decision, adding that they still have his support, given that there’s still a need for a new school in the inner west in the very near future.

Mr Berkman is pushing for a site near to where Taringa State School was before being sold off in 1997, that’s close to the train station and other public transport links.

New Inner West Primary School — Inner West map (Photo credit: Queensland Department of Education)

“I’ve been clear from the outset that neither the Toowong site nor ISHS were appropriate, and that the Department should have commenced planning and found a suitable site much earlier. This has consistently been the focus of my submissions and discussions with the Department about the location,” he said.

Mr Berkman is also inviting members of the community to have their say if they have an idea for a new school site in Taringa that’s big enough to allow buildings and play space, close to public transport, and doesn’t result in a loss of public green space. Those who have suggestions can send an email to Mr Berkman at maiwar@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Feedback, which was gathered from 18 April to 8 May 2022, will be considered in the ongoing planning for the school.

Have Your Say On Concept Master Plan For Inner West Primary School In Toowong

The Education Department is seeking feedback for the Concept Master Plan of the new inner west primary school, which is expected to be built on the site of the former Toowong Bowls Club.

Read: Should the New Inner-West Primary School Be Built at the Former Toowong Bowls Club Site?

The Concept Master Plan includes the proposed building design, traffic measures, and flood mitigation strategies.

Based on the master plan, the proposed building has five levels including the lower ground level that contains the undercroft and parking.

toowong primary school — Photo credit: https://qed.qld.gov.au/

The concept design that has been developed for the former Toowong Bowls Club site responds to the context of the site and includes consideration of:

a vertical design to maximise available land
provision of emergency access and exit points to mitigate impacts of riverine and overland flooding
internal parent drop-off/pick-up facilities, signalised intersection at Gailey Road and Heroes Avenue, and recessed bus bays on Gailey Road are being investigated to mitigate impacts on the local traffic network
a modified construction program and methodology to address potential impacts on the Perrin Park flying-fox colony
physical separation, roofing and shade structures, together with student and staff education to support safe, ongoing operations adjacent to the flying-fox colony
green space on the ground level, with additional open play areas incorporated into the vertical spaces of the school building.

inner west priamry school — Photo credit: https://qed.qld.gov.au/

To minimise traffic impacts, the Education Department has proposed installing traffic lights and widening the Heroes Avenue/Gailey Road intersection, constructing a dedicated drop off/pick up area for parents and carers; and recessed bus bays on Gailey Rd.

Building and site design will also consider the proximity to the flying-fox colony and a responsive construction program will be in place to address the needs of the colony with consideration for the breeding cycle.

new school toowong — Photo credit: https://qed.qld.gov.au/

With regard to the plan, Greens MP Michael Berkman hopes to see more in the next round of consultation, such as more detailed drawings of the building design, draft school catchment map, and a Flood Risk Management Plan for the site.

Plans indicate that the proposed learning, administration and indoor areas will be at least 2 metres above the official 2011 level, which reached 7.0 metres.

toowong bowls club school — Photo credit: https://qed.qld.gov.au/

“A flood expert has conducted a school flood risk assessment and developed a flood risk management plan. When appointed, the Foundation Principal will implement the plan which will include school evacuation plans to ensure the safety of students, their families, and staff,” said the Department of Education.

The inner west state school is programmed to open for Prep to Year 6 students for Term 1, 2024.

Have Your say on the concept master plan

You can provide feedback online via email or survey or at one of the in-person drop-in sessions to be held at Ironside State School Hall on 28 April and 30 April. The consultation period for the Concept Master Plan is from 18 April to 8 May 2022. Further details can be viewed at https://qed.qld.gov.au/

Should the New Inner-West Primary School Be Built at the Former Toowong Bowls Club Site?

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Fresh concerns were raised about the suitability of the former Toowong Bowls Club site as the location of the proposed new inner-west primary school after the area went underwater during the February/March 2022 extreme weather event that battered southeast Queensland.

The old Toowong Bowls Club is the identified site for the proposed new state school. Queensland’s first vertical public primary school is aimed to ease enrolment pressure off Indooroopilly, Ironside, and Toowong State schools.

The recent flooding has, however, raised questions about the suitability and safety of the former bowls club site.

Greens MP for Maiwar – Michael Berkman said that after the floodwaters have subsided and massive cleanup has been undertaken, it soon became clear that the old bowls club which sits next to Perrin Park may not be the ideal location for the much-needed new school.

“It is clearer than ever that the site goes under in major floods—we already knew this—and the adjacent road at Heroes Avenue floods much more easily, cutting off one of two possible road access points,” he said.

“I know there are some locals who continue to oppose the department’s decision. I understand their concerns and I respect their position.”

He also expressed his disappointment over the state government’s lack of forward planning and its preference for using “scarce public land” rather than privately owned property for the new inner-west primary school.

However, he said that whilst he understands that there are some locals who continue to oppose the Department’s decision, he believes that it may be too late to change location now.

He said that even if the Department could be persuaded to reconsider the location it would be to the detriment of students and teachers at Indooroopilly, Ironside, and Toowong State schools.

Mr Berkman suggested that the State Government should instead ensure that the building design provides the best flood immunity possible much like the new buildings at Milton State School which have proven to be flood-resilient. That would mean “necessary upgrades for Heroes Avenue and safe road and pedestrian access from Gailey Road” should also be considered.

The Education Department said that the two rounds of community consultation and significant studies point to the former bowls club as the preferred site and is a great location for the proposed new school.

It also acknowledges that design solutions for the proposed primary school should address potential flood impacts and the need to incorporate emergency access at the site.

“I am sincerely hoping all players on the west side can start acting a bit more like grown-ups and collaborating in the best interests of our area,” Mr Berkman concluded.

New Toowong Primary School Location Confirmed

After more than a year of community consultations and site investigations, Perrin Park in Toowong has now been confirmed as the location of Brisbane’s newest primary school.

Read: Perrin Park in Toowong Emerges as Preferred Site for New Primary School

Results of the community consultation process previously indicated that the Perrin Park site, very near the old Toowong Bowls Club, is the local community’s preferred site.

The new school is estimated to cost $90 million and will create around 200 jobs during construction. Expected to provide world-class education facility, the new school will accommodate Prep to Year 6 students.

It will be the first primary school to open in Brisbane’s inner western suburbs in more than 60 years and will be built to ease enrolment pressures off Indooroopilly, Ironside, and Toowong state schools.

The school is part of a $1.2-billion state government initiative which aims to deliver 14 new schools over the next three years.

“The former Toowong Bowls Club site is a great location for an innovative vertical school design that integrates indoor and outdoor spaces, maximising available land to provide capacity for up to 900 students when Stage 1 and 2 are delivered,” said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“Building upward instead of outward, helps to alleviate the need for large school sites while complementing the surrounding urban environment.,” the Premier added.

Inner West Brisbane map — Inner west map (Photo credit: Department of Education/Queensland Government)

Local Concerns

Some residents have raised concerns over the ecological impact around Perrin Park which has an active flying fox colony. The Department of Education will work with the Commonwealth government to ensure the delivery of the new school does not impact the health of the colony.

After the planning, acquisition, and approval process which is currently in progress, the Education Department will proceed with the final design for the school.

Read: Perrin Park Site Unsuitable for New Primary School, Residents Say

Based on the projected timeline, the new school will open for Term 1 in January 2024. With its opening, it is expected to ease student overpopulation in Indooroopilly State School and Ironside State School.

Perrin Park in Toowong Emerges as Preferred Site for New Primary School

A site in Perrin Park, near the old Toowong Bowls Club, looks to be the preferred location for a new primary school in Brisbane’s west.

Following the second round of consultations in June 2021, data from the survey revealed that residents have opted for the site, specifically located on Gailey Road, instead of the initially proposed area next to the Indooroopilly State High School.

“Based on the feedback received, the Perrin Park Precinct appears to be the preferred site compared to the ISHS site, but further considerations are required,” the Department of Education updated as the site selection process will conclude by the end of 2021.

“Following site selection, there will be further opportunities for the local community to provide feedback on the project.”

Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman presented the results of the month-long survey between Perrin Park and ISHS.

“The general finding that the Toowong Bowls Club site has more support is consistent with the balance of feedback I’ve been hearing for the last six months,” he said.

“While neither site is perfect, there is slightly more support for a new primary school there than at ISHS. My position has been that the State Government would need to provide a land swap to offset the loss of the community facilities at Toowong Bowls Club.”

Photo Credit: Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman

However, some residents have raised concerns over the ecological impact around Perrin Park which has an active flying fox colony. Others also voiced their worries over the site’s flooding issues.

The State Government will have to discuss the land’s use as a school facility with Brisbane City Council, which owns the site. Acquiring private land has not been considered.

Brisbane’s new primary school in the west is slated to open in 2024 to ease the student overpopulation in Indooroopilly State School and Ironside.