Lachlan Mcivor, Queensland Times
January 31, 2019 12:39pm
A NUMBER of new schools are on the way to keep up the ever increasing population of the Ipswich region.
Existing schools are also set for refurbishments and new buildings as demand for new facilities grows. Here are some of the new schools and expansions on the way:
Redbank Plains
Plans to build a new Catholic primary school at Redbank Plains were approved in September. Ipswich City Council approved a development application for a 780 student school on Halletts Rd at Redbank Plains which is expected to be ready for its first students by 2020.
The school will accommodate 186 students and later expanded to include two two-story classroom blocks to house 780 students. The school will be called St Ann's. Construction is expected to begin in the middle of the year.
Ripley
Two new schools will feature in a multi-million dollar education precinct which will be built at Providence in South Ripley.
The 14.4 hectare site will be transformed into two separate schools, a primary school and a high school, and feature general learning areas, administration centres, lecture theatres, as well as dedicated spaces for performing arts, music, and sport. The precinct is set to welcome students in 2020.
The primary school will cater for 1000 students and the high school will cater for 1500 students.
The first intake of students will include children in Prep to Year 6 in the primary school and Years 7 and 8 in the secondary school.
New year levels will be added to the secondary school each year as students' progress.
Springfield
Spring Mountain State School to the west of Springfield will welcome its first ever set of students this week.
The new school will include 30 classrooms, a specifically designed music and science block, resource centre, multi-purpose hall, administration building, tuckshop and uniform shop, facilities officer's room and a large oval. 50 students are expected on the first day.
Bellbird Park State Secondary College's new classroom precinct.
Bellbird Park State Secondary College
Located in Brentwood Forest, Bellbird Park is opening two new buildings and introducing a Year 9 cohort to its ranks for the first time this year.
The school, now in its third year, is expecting over 300 new students.
A large contingent of families moving to the area has contributed to the peak in enrolments at the school.
"To help cater for this increase, we are excited to offer a range of new facilities to students, including a sports hall, performing arts auditorium, science labs and applied technology rooms,” principal Michael West said.
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/regional/new-schools-and-developments-slated-for-ipswich/news-story/c44388bef31cae9d078ccdb55f624b4b