New high school and education era for Brisbane Bayside

A new state high schooI is to be built at Wynnum as part of a transformation of education in the Brisbane Bayside area, Education and Training Minister Rod Welford announced today.

Mr Welford said construction of a new state high school on a new site was the centrepiece of the Bligh Government’s plans for the area under its State Schools of Tomorrow schools renewal initiative.

“The Government is committing $150 million – $50 million more than originally planned – to fulfil a community vision for education in Brisbane Bayside,” Mr Welford said.

“The new school will have a capacity of about 800 students to accommodate students from Wynnum North State High School. We are investigating a number of potential sites in the Wynnum area and plan to have it open for the 2010 school year.

“Building a new Bayside high school reflects our Government’s commitment to giving local families educational opportunities that match their needs and aspirations.

“As well as this new secondary school, we are renewing eight other state schools with facilities comparable to schools now being built.”

Mr Welford said six schools – Manly, Manly West, Tingalpa, Wondall Heights and Wynnum West State Schools, and Wynnum State High School – would be completely modernised through the project.

Darling Point Special School will also be retained on its present site and its facilities enhanced.

During 2010, following the construction of the new high school and relocation for students from Wynnum North State High to the new site, the present site will undergo major redevelopment into a primary school.

This will open for the start of 2011 as a new school formed from the amalgamation of Lindum, Wynnum Central and Wynnum North State Schools which will close at the end of 2010.

“The new amalgamated primary school will initially cater for about 630 students and give the central and northern parts of Wynnum a modernised, sustainable primary school,” Mr Welford said.

“This is an area where enrolments have been steadily declining and schools are on small sites compared with today’s schools.

“Years 5, 6 and 7 students at these schools will be able to complete their primary education at their current schools and will then have the opportunity to attend a high school offering the most modern facilities.”

The Moreton Bay Environmental Centre now at Wynnum Central State School will be relocated to the new primary school to be developed on the site of Wynnum North State High School site.

Member for Lytton Paul Lucas said the $150 million was an investment in the Bayside’s future.

“Our state and private schools have great students and great teachers, but the facilities in local state schools simply don’t match what’s on offer at private schools or indeed at many newer state schools,” Mr Lucas said.

“This $150 million investment is a great opportunity to give our children the best, modern educational facilities we can deliver.

“Bayside people have been extremely enthusiastic about the modern teaching and learning environments that will be created at schools being renewed.

“These schools will be transformed with new or remodelled buildings and attractive undercover play and assembly areas.

“Inside will be bigger classrooms and practical learning areas to take advantage of modern teaching methods and support new curriculum opportunities, in areas such as science, technology, engineering and maths.

“The new high school and the modernised Wynnum State High School will have modern amenities such as a performing arts facility, multi-purpose sports centre and multi-media facilities with production capabilities.”

Mr Welford said the bulk of project construction work was planned to be completed for the start of the 2010 school year, when around 4200 staff and children would move into new or renewed facilities.

The second phase, involving development of a primary school at the Wynnum North High State School site, would be completed a year later.

He said extensive community consultations meant Brisbane Bayside residents were well informed about declining enrolments at several schools, particularly those around the bay and river where there was now an older demographic or predominantly commercial development.

Following community consultation, the Government has decided that Hemmant and Lota state schools will not be part of the State Schools of Tomorrow initiative.

“There is no plan to close either school and they will remain open pending enrolment numbers,” Mr Welford said. “They will continue to receive the same enrolment-based allocation of staffing as well as maintenance funds that applies to other schools.

“Separate to the State Schools of Tomorrow initiative, Lota State School will have its toilet facilities replaced before the start of the 2009 school year at a cost of $400,000.”

Mr Welford said all renewed school facilities would be designed to meet the requirement for greater sustainability and efficiency of vital resources, such as water.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985