Master Plan Information Hub

The College has moved into the rehabilitation phase of the approved Master Plan. Ground rehabilitation commenced at the end of September and is progressing as planned. The program has been staged so that site preparation, supporting infrastructure and planting are carried out in the right sequence, giving new trees the best possible conditions to establish.

The rehabilitation and revegetation program is being delivered in the following stages:

• Ground rehabilitation: End of September to mid-November 2026

• Concrete pathway works: Mid-October to mid-November 2026

• Planting commences: Mid-November 2026

Timeframes may need to be adjusted in response to weather and site conditions. Any significant changes will be communicated through this Information Hub.

The rehabilitation and revegetation program has been designed to go beyond replanting trees. It will strengthen the wildlife corridor across the College grounds, improving canopy connection and food sources for koalas and other native wildlife moving through the area.

The program forms part of the College's commitments under the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) and is guided by a Site Rehabilitation Plan prepared by an ecologist. It includes:

• Planting at least 526 preferred koala food trees in the designated replanting areas on campus

• Using native species suited to the local area, including key food trees for koalas and grey-headed flying-foxes

• Ongoing weed management and care of the new plantings

• An ecological assessment once the work is complete, confirming there has been no net loss of wildlife habitat

We recognise that trees take time to mature and the benefits of this work will build gradually. We are committed to the long-term care of the new plantings and ensuring the legacy of Ormiston College includes a thriving wildlife corridor.

There is no immediate plan for construction to commence on the Early Learning Centre. The College's current focus is on the rehabilitation and revegetation program, which is now underway, with planting scheduled to commence in mid-November.

The Early Learning Centre remains part of the approved Master Plan.

Construction of the koala-sensitive fencing has been installed in accordance with the recommendations of the project's Ecological Assessment, the National Koala Sensitive Design Guidelines and the requirements of the MID. Log escape poles have been established to allow koalas to move safely through the site, while ensuring the effectiveness of the permanent fencing system.

The Ormiston College Master Plan is a long-term strategic framework designed to guide the College’s growth and development to meet rising student enrolments.

The Plan provides a clear direction for the future of the College, ensuring we are growing and evolving to meet this demand while maintaining the values and environment that make Ormiston College unique. The proposed Plan will help create a learning environment that offers the best opportunities and nurtures the strengths of current and future students - across academics, sports and the arts.

No. While new buildings and sporting facilities are part of the Master Plan, they will be built on the existing college premises. Ormiston College currently sits on 67 acres of land and it is within these perimeters that works would take place.

The Master Plan will enhance the spaces where our students learn, play and grow, through a combination of new purpose-built facilities and upgrades to existing spaces. These improvements will allow the College to better support individual strengths, whether in the classroom, the arts or on the sporting field.

The facilities and upgrades included in the approved Master Plan are:

D01 New Full Perimeter Boundary Security Fence with Automatic Vehicular Sliding Gates, Pedestrian Access Gates and Koala Crossing as Required

D02 New Multi Use Building- Educational Teaching Spaces and Storage (2 Storey)

D03 New Multi Use Building - Utilities, Maintenance and Archive (2 Storey)

D06 New Grounds/Green Keepers’ Sheds

D07 New Boarding Facility (3 Storey) and associated Car Parking/ Drop Off Zone

D08 New Aquatic Centre- 50m Pool (extension of current 25m pool) & Multi-Use Educational Building (2 Storey)

D09 New Sturgeon Street Connection Path and Landscape

D10 Lingo Lin Performing Arts Theatre Extension

D11 New Outdoor Play Area

D12 Covered Area to Existing Multipurpose Courts

D13 New Concrete Connection Pathway

D14 Sports Court Extension and New Grandstand (2 Storey)

D15 Carpark Extension to Dundas St W Carpark

D16 Somerset Sports Centre Covered Entries

D17 New Indoor Multi-Purpose Courts with Enclosed Cricket Pitch and Nets

D18 New Storage Shed Inc New Change Rooms/ Amenities (1 Storey)

D20 New Junior School Sports Fields with External Sports Lighting

D21 New External Shaded Seating

D22 New Concrete Covered Connection Pathway For Branch Fall Protection

D23 New Council Street Parallel Parking

D24 Extension to Existing Carpark

D25 New Field Lighting to Existing Field

E01 Existing Buildings, Structures and Embellishments

J01 Building Extension- Year 4 (1 Storey)

J02 Building Extension- Year 5 (1 Storey)

J03 New Changeroom/Amenities (1 Storey)

J04 Extension to Amenities (1 Storey)

J05 Extension to Changeroom/Amenities (1 Storey)

J06 Repurpose and Extend Existing Prep for Grade 1 Class (1 Storey)

J07 Repurpose Existing ELC for Prep Precinct (1 Storey)

J08 New Early Learning Centre and Connected Carpark (2 Storey)

J09 New Covered Junior School Drop Off Zone

J10 New Junior School Administration Building (2 Storey)

S01 New Business Studies and Arts Precinct (3 Storey)

S02 New Multi-Use Building- Educational Teaching Spaces with Amenities (2 Storey)

Under Queensland planning legislation, certain types of essential community infrastructure, including schools, are assessed through the State Government's Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process. Because parts of the College grounds are mapped as koala habitat under the State’s koala planning framework, which took effect in 2020, the MID was the correct and lawful pathway for this project. It was a legal requirement rather than a choice made by the College.

The application was assessed by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, with input from State agencies responsible for planning, environmental protection and community impact. Formal approval was granted in May 2026. Throughout the process, the College continued to engage with Redland City Council and local councillors.

The ecological assessment for the Master Plan found that the area affected by works functions primarily as a transit corridor, meaning koalas move through the area but do not typically live there.

The College continues to meet the environmental requirements of the MID, protecting these movement pathways through koala-sensitive fencing and a rehabilitation and revegetation program designed to strengthen the wildlife corridor across the campus.

The College engaged JWA Ecological Consultants to provide expert environmental advice for areas affected by the Master Plan. JWA has carried out ecological surveys on the site since 2016, including detailed flora and fauna studies, vegetation and habitat mapping, and targeted koala surveys completed in 2020. The koala surveys were led by Adam McArthur with specialist support from Dr Grant Brearley and Dr Nicole Davies. JWA's full ecological reporting formed part of the MID documentation assessed by the State Government.

The assessment found that the area affected by works, which is mapped as koala habitat under Queensland’s koala planning framework, functions primarily as a transit corridor rather than a breeding ground or high-density habitat. Recorded koala activity in this area was low and consistent with transit behaviour.

Once all works approved under the MID are complete, approximately 80 per cent of the koala habitat across the College will be retained.

The trees affected by the approved works are mostly supplementary or shelter species such as Melaleuca quinquenervia, with around 11 per cent being preferred koala food trees such as Eucalyptus tereticornis. In total, approximately 58 preferred koala food trees and 594 supplementary trees are affected across the full Master Plan.

To offset this, the College is planting at least 526 preferred koala food trees. A final ecological assessment will take place once all works are complete to confirm there has been no net loss of wildlife habitat.

The College is committed to strengthening the wildlife corridor over time, ensuring the legacy of Ormiston College includes a thriving natural environment for koalas and other wildlife.

The safety of the local koala community and other wildlife continues to be of critical importance to the College.

All vegetation clearing under the Master Plan is carried out in accordance with the College’s approved Vegetation and Fauna Management Plan and the requirements of the MID. The plan was prepared by qualified specialists in accordance with the Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017. It sets clear standards and protocols to minimise disruption and safeguard local wildlife throughout the development.

Measures include:

• Clearing in stages, with no more than 50 per cent of the area cleared in any one stage and mandatory overnight rest periods between stages, allowing wildlife to move naturally toward retained habitat

• Licensed fauna spotter-catchers on site before and throughout all clearing works

• An immediate pause in any zone where wildlife is identified, with an exclusion area established until the animal has moved on safely of its own accord

• All activity logged and reported in line with State wildlife protocols

These protocols apply to all wildlife on site, not just koalas. They were followed during the clearing completed in June 2026 and will apply to any future clearing under the approved Master Plan.

The College takes pride in being part of the Redlands community, and collaboration with the broader community has been important throughout the Master Plan process.

Community consultation began in January 2023, well before the MID application was lodged. This included letterbox drops to around 100 nearby homes, meetings with neighbours, and direct discussions with parents, local council representatives and advocacy groups. Public consultation on the MID application was also held from 5 August to 7 September 2025.

Feedback from residents, parents, environmental groups and independent specialists led to several changes to the plan, including:

• Reducing the overall development footprint, including the Early Learning Centre

• Removing a proposed car park located within a sensitive part of the koala corridor

• Strengthening and widening the koala movement corridor through targeted revegetation and layout adjustments

• Increasing setbacks for neighbouring properties to reduce amenity impacts

The College continues to engage with neighbours, advocacy groups, students and parents as works progress.

Including clarification on carpark removal as one answer references 'removing a proposed car park, reducing the Early Learning Centre footprint' and one refers to 'removing a proposed car park located within a sensitive part of the koala corridor. We've assumed that's the same car park being referenced but if it's two different car parks we can re-write to stress that point.

We respect the right of community members to peaceful expression and understand the strength of feeling behind it. We ask that any activity remains respectful and does not interfere with the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and families.

The safety and wellbeing of our College community is always our first priority, and where required we will escalate concerns to the relevant authorities. If you experience threatening or intimidating behaviour, online or in person, please contact the College directly so it can be documented and addressed.

Comments have been turned off on the College’s social media platforms to protect the safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and wider community. This followed a number of inappropriate remarks made during the MID consultation and approval process. We welcome questions and feedback about the Master Plan and ask that these are shared respectfully by contacting the College directly.

This Information Hub will continue to be updated with the latest project news, milestones and any changes to works. We will also share updates through the College's usual channels, including email and social media.