Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman is celebrating a huge win today as the State government announced that a new primary school will be built for Brisbane’s inner west by 2023.
“For years I’ve been hearing from local residents that the inner west desperately needs a new school to keep up with rapid development and densification in the area," Mr Berkman said.
“Our schools have been so severely overcrowded that classrooms are full, pool and library time is limited, before and after school care services have long wait lists and demountable classrooms are being erected on school ovals, encroaching on students’ play area.
“It’s had real impacts on the wellbeing of students, parents and the local community, so this is a massive win for them.
“Since I was elected I’ve been meeting with local P&Cs, collecting petition signatures, raising this issue in Parliament and working with the Education Minister to secure a new school for the inner west - I’m so excited they’ve listened to the community and will be investing in this crucial infrastructure.
“My office and I have been looking into a number of possible locations for a new school, and believe Taringa is the obvious choice, given its population is growing quickly, it’s relatively accessible via public transport, and it still doesn’t have a school.
“Closing the old Taringa State School in 1996 and selling off the land was a huge mistake - I’ll be pushing hard for this new school to be built at Taringa, so it can take pressure off all the surrounding schools struggling with overcrowding including Toowong, Indooroopilly and Ironside.”