Sod turned to deliver new Gracemere High School

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering on a key election commitment with the first sod turned today for a new high school at Gracemere. 
• The new secondary school supports the fast-growing community in Central Queensland and is scheduled to open for Years 7 and 8 in 2028.
• Calls for a new high school at Gracemere were ignored by the former Labor Government.
• The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland’s future after a decade of decline under Labor. 

The Crisafulli Government will turn the sod at Gracemere’s new high school today, delivering for the fast-growing community and marking a major milestone in the $100 million election commitment.   

Stage 1 of the new school is scheduled to open in Term 1 2028 for students in Years 7 and 8 initially and will grow to accommodate around 1000 students from Years 7 to 12 and 100 staff. 

The first stage includes 16 general classrooms, nine specialist learning areas including science, food studies and junior industrial technology, administration facilities, covered areas, outdoor multi-purpose courts, an oval, a car park and a pick-up and drop-off zone. 

The Crisafulli Government is building Queensland’s future, after the former Labor Government failed to plan for Gracemere's growing population and ignored calls from the community for a new school for a decade. 

As a result of Labor’s decade of decline, a maintenance repair bill of more than $440 million is required for state schools assets reaching end of life, while behavioural issues, bullying and occupational violence skyrocketed in Queensland classrooms.   

The Crisafulli Government’s $23.1 billion Education Budget is delivering 22 new schools including nine special schools to cater for Queensland’s growing population, to provide choice to parents and to make sure students have the opportunity to reach their potential.   

Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the Gracemere community deserved access to a quality education.  

“We are delivering on our promise to build a secondary school for Gracemere to provide local families with a world-class education closer to home,” Minister Langbroek said. 

“The new school is being built on the corner of Johnson Road and Lucas Street and will provide a quicker and easier school run for families and support students to walk or ride to school.  

“The Crisafulli Government is investing a record $2.3 billion to build 22 new schools for Queensland’s growing communities to ensure students catch up, keep up and stay in school. 

“Turning the sod marks a major milestone for the new high school and for the Gracemere community who have called for this for 10 years. 

“We will continue to fix the mess we inherited from Labor by tackling behavioural issues, bullying and occupational violence with the $45 million behaviour boost, a nation-leading anti-bullying plan and by delivering almost 170 Workplace Health and Safety Officers.” 

Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland said the growing region had significantly increased.

"Not only has the community of Gracemere been calling out for a high school over the past decade, but the new high school will support the growing needs of the Gracemere and Rockhampton region," Mrs Kirkland said.