Consultation open for new Westbrook school

Continued from page

Dr Coughlan said through the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) application process, Toowoomba Catholic Schools is currently seeking community feedback.

“Our MID application contains details of the proposed College and is available on the website of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning,” he said.

“We also have all the details on the Toowoomba Catholic Schools website.

“We are keen to hear from the community, so encourage people to get in touch.

“This is an exciting step in the journey as we believe St Francis will be the contemporary education, sporting and cultural hub the Westbrook community has been asking for.”

In the Architectural Masterplan submitted as part of the MID application, it is stated that a public bus stop is proposed on Shoesmith Road, while the pedestrian network is yet to be confirmed.

All parking areas and drop-off zones will be provided onsite along with set down areas for school buses.

The school is expected to open in 2026 following Stage 1 of development.

The Stage 5 ultimate layout is expected to be complete by 2035.

Backflow Accredited

Initial enrolments in 2026 are planned to total 389, which includes 22 in kindergarten, 175 in prep to year 4 and 192 in years 7 and 8.

By 2035, the end of stage 5, enrolments are planned to be 1,467, including 22 in kindergarten, 545 in prep to year 6 and 900 in years 7 to 12.

Staff numbers will start at 30 in 2026, rising to 101 by 2035.

As part of changes needed to be made to the nearby road network to accommodate the school, discussions have been had with Toowoomba Regional Council regarding the junction of Shoesmith Road and Boundary Street South.

It is said in the MID application that Council has advised that it will upgrade the junction to a 120 metre curve with channelised turning provision, removing the near right angle currently in place. There is no strict timeline provided as to when this upgrade will be made.

The MID application makes several references to the 1,500 lot Fernleigh Estate, that if built would be on the school’s doorstep to the east.

Hallmark Property announced an indefinite delay on the development of Fernleigh due to Council only giving partial approval and thus the development of Fernleigh was not calculated into the plans of St Francis College.

To view the MID application and make a submission, visit planning.dsdmip.qld.gov.au/infrastructure-designation/database and select requests open for consultation.

A submission can also be made via email to infrastructuredesignation@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au or via post to PO Box 15009, City East, QLD, 4002.

Young people eligible for free HPV vaccination

With a national decrease in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates over the pandemic, parents are reminded their child is eligible for a free HPV vaccine if they missed their scheduled Year 7 School Immunisation Program clinic. shown there was a decrease in HPV vaccination rates across the country, including Queensland, between 2019 and 2021.

Young people aged 25 years and under are now eligible for a free HPV vaccine, up from 19 years of age, to be protected against a range of HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, genital cancers, and genital warts.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Lynne McKinley said the HPV vaccine is routinely offered to Year 7 students through the School Immunisation Program, however national data has