Tradies take up tools on new school at Greenbank

Work is officially underway on a new $73 million state primary school at Greenbank south of Brisbane, creating more than 200 local construction jobs.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Education Minister Grace Grace, Member for Logan Linus Power and Member for Jordan Charis Mullen today turned the first sod on the new North Maclean primary school, one of three new state schools being built for 2022.

“Construction is absolutely vital to rebuilding our economy and creating jobs,” the Premier said.

“That’s why we’re forging ahead with infrastructure projects that will provide good, honest, reliable jobs for locals.

“No government in Queensland’s history has invested more in our schools.

“This is a historic day for the Greenbank community. Students in Prep to Year 6 will walk through the school gates in January 2022 with an admin block, library, multi-purpose hall, oval, playgrounds and classrooms,” she said.

The new primary school at Greenbank is one of three schools being delivered by the Palaszczuk Government in time for 2022.

Together, construction of schools at Greenbank, Caloundra South and Coomera will support almost 600 local construction jobs and will pump $200 million into the Queensland economy.

“It’s great to turn the sod today and to see tradies and labourers hard at work here at the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area,” the Premier said.

In stage one, the Greenbank school will cater to around 700 students. But in the future, 1400 students will be able to be accommodated.

Member for Logan Linus Power said he was thrilled to see construction starting.

“This is an exciting milestone for the many young families in the North MacLean community,” Mr Power said.

“This is a high-growth part of southeast Queensland with increasing numbers of families moving into the new Everleigh housing development, where new family homes continue to spring up every day.”

Member for Jordan Charis Mullen said the new school came on top of more than $90 million already invested in state schools across Jordan and more than $60 million in Logan since 2015.

“I look forward to seeing tradies at work on this site, and the first students heading through the school gates in a year’s time,” she said.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the school was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s record $1.9 billion infrastructure spend in 2020-21.

“Our investment in our schools will help drive the post-COVID economic recovery as well as ensuring all Queensland children, no matter where they live, will benefit from world-class facilities at school,” she said.

“North MacLean and the other new schools we are building for 2022 will keep a pipeline of construction work going and create jobs for local tradies and contractors.”

Mirvac Queensland Residential Manager Warwick Bible said the start of work on the new school was a major milestone for the fast-growing Greenbank community.

“The new state primary school is a fantastic asset for the entire Greenbank region and, in particular, the young minds who will start their educational journey here over the coming years,” he said.

“Many first home buyers and families are choosing to call this area home, with Everleigh alone to have about 750 residents by the start of the 2022 school year and some 3,000 when the school bell rings in early 2026.

“We share the State Government’s vision of bringing to life new infrastructure such as this to support that growth and the families who live in this region.”

As well as building this school at Greenbank, FKG has also won contracts to build a primary school at Caloundra South and a special school at Coomera, all opening in 2022.

The Queensland company has recently completed construction of four new schools on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts who took their first students on the first day of school last month.

For more information visit: https://qed.qld.gov.au/programs-initiatives/department/building-education

ENDS

Media contacts:
Jack Harbour (Premier’s office) – 0419 620 447
Jan Martin (Minister Grace’s office) – 0439 341 314