Newman Government preserves school land for green space

The Newman Government has moved to save three pieces of inner-city land from future development, ensuring they are retained as green space for the Brisbane community well into the future.

Premier Campbell Newman said two pieces of land that had been considered for sale would instead be handed over to the Brisbane City Council (BCC) while another would be retained by the Department of Education, Training and Employment.

“By handing over this land to the Brisbane City Council we ensure that not only the school but the whole community will enjoy it for many years to come,” Mr Newman said.

“This is a great outcome for Brisbane residents and shows what can be achieved when different levels of government work together in the interests of the community.

“I’d like to pay special tribute to local member Aaron Dillaway who has made strong representations to Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek and me on behalf of his local community to save the oval at Balmoral State High School from development.

“That’s in stark contrast to what we’ve seen from the Prime Minister.

“Kevin Rudd has not made a single representation to me to save the school from development and appears much more concerned about running politically motivated scare campaigns.

“The people of Griffith would be much better served by someone who didn’t spend his whole life zipping around overseas or scouting out his next photo opportunity.”

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the outcome was testament to the importance of genuine consultation.

“My Department identified Balmoral State High School and Whites Hill College in Brisbane’s inner-south and Earnshaw State College in the inner-north as schools that had land surplus to their requirements,” Mr Langbroek said.

“After consultation with the local community it was clear that while the schools did not need the land, all parties wanted to retain it as green space.

“That’s why we have acted to guarantee that this land will be green space for future generations.”

“Despite being hampered by a politically motivated campaign by Kevin Rudd, we’ve delivered a win-win solution for the school and the local community.”

Member for Bulimba Aaron Dillaway said today’s announcement was a great outcome for the local community.

“This is what I have been fighting for, while representing the community’s views to the Premier and Education Minister over several weeks,” Mr Dillaway said.

“This deal with the BCC gives security for retaining the oval as green space, allows local schools and sporting groups to continue using it and allows for further enhancement.

“I welcome this decision on behalf of the whole community.”

Brisbane City Council Lifestyle Chairman Councillor Krista Adams said Council welcomed the Premier’s announcement and would ensure the land was retained as sporting fields.

Cr Adams said Council would contact community sporting organisations and offer them a lease for the ongoing use of the land.

“There are sporting groups around Brisbane looking for more open green space and Council will now be able to offer two more sports fields in the eastern suburbs,” Cr Adams said.

“Council thanks the Premier for his announcement and we will get in contact with any sporting groups that already use these school ovals and offer them first use.                     

“After that we will go through the normal process of seeking expressions of interest so local sporting groups can use and look after these sporting fields on a longer term basis.”

Mr Langbroek said officials in his Department would work with their Brisbane City Council counterparts to finalise the transfer of the land.

He said the piece of land at Earnshaw State College would be retained by the school which would continue to allow the community to have access to it.

[ENDS] 18 July 2013

Media contact:

Andrew Blow (Premier’s Office) 0408 912 821

Danita Goodwin (Minister’s Office) 0439 886 652

Nick Kennedy (Lord Mayor’s Office) 0437 831 581