“But at the same time,I guess it is going to be a good thing for Queensland in terms of bringing economic growth to the area.”
Another parent of two children was opposed to the idea of the school having to make way for the revamped Gabba.
“They shouldn’t redevelop the Gabba. It should just stay as it is,” she said. “But if they are going to redevelop the Gabba,they should prioritise the children here. The school should stay.”
Sophy Hsu said the school was already too small for the existing number of pupils.
In late 2020,the schoolasked for a new building to add four new classroomsto take the enrolments from 280 to 450.
Ms Hsu believed the school would struggle to cope with new enrolments from the increasing population in East Brisbane and Woolloongabba in Brisbane’s inner-eastern suburbs.
“It’s a lovely school. The facilities are great,the teachers are great and the families really don’t want to have to send their kids elsewhere,” she said.
Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner was confident the heritage buildings would be protected but was unsure what the redevelopment would mean for the school.
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“I’m not across that issue in relation to the state school,but I do know that there are a number of heritage buildings surrounding the Gabba,” he said.
“All of those buildings will be protected and I have no doubt that all of those buildings will form part of the revitalised Gabba.”
Greens MP Amy MacMahon,whose South Brisbane electorate includes the Gabba,said she was “really concerned about the impacts on the school”.
“East Brisbane State School is already facing capacity,they are in a very squeezed spot there next to the Gabba station,” she said.
“The visualisations put out by the government today show the school being completely transformed,and from my understanding,the school is yet to have any formal consultation.
“We will be pushing to make sure the school is protected.”
Education Queensland said the school community would be consulted on any changes.