A state-of-the-art $18.9 million learning centre for Brisbane Central State School delivered by the Palaszczuk Government has been officially opened.
Education Minister and local Member for McConnel Grace Grace said the building had been a magnificent addition to the school, providing a range of both flexible and specialised classrooms for the benefit of students and staff.
“This new I Block building is fantastic, featuring 12 general learning spaces, a digital and design ‘maker space’, a music room, a resource centre, administration, staff facilities, amenities, a canteen, a uniform shop and outdoor learning spaces,” Ms Grace said.
“The Palaszczuk Government is building the infrastructure that growing schools like Brisbane Central State School need to cater for extra enrolments, and I Block alone has given the school capacity to take on more than 200 new students.
“Our government is spending $220 million on new classrooms for growing schools in the 2022/23 budget alone, as part of an infrastructure spend of almost $2 billion that is supporting 4,200 Queensland jobs.
“Projects like this one are delivering better services and supporting Queenslanders by creating good jobs, a key component of the Palaszczuk Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
“Construction of the new I Block created about 50 local jobs, and an additional 35 apprentices worked on site throughout the life of the project.
The Palaszczuk Government is also investing $440,000 in the budget to provide equitable access to the existing hall at Brisbane Central State School.
“While it’s vital to build new facilities, it’s also important that as a government we continue to upgrade existing facilities to make sure students with disabilities are easily able to access them,” Ms Grace said.
“This investment will ensure safe and easy access for all students to E Block, through a project that is part of a $650 million investment in the most recent budget for upgrades at existing schools.”
Ms Grace said she was proud to deliver the project both as Minister and as the local member for the thriving multicultural Brisbane Central State School community.
“At this school alone there are students from more than 40 countries, with more than 50 languages spoken by families in the school community,” Ms Grace said.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to making sure Queensland state school students get a world-class education, and building new facilities is important in delivering that for each and every child – no matter where in the state they live.”
Brisbane Central State School Principal Michael Grogan said everyone was thrilled to now be using the new learning centre, which was completed in December.
“This 3-storey building has given our school the room it needs to meet the demands of our growing community well into the future,” Mr Grogan said.
“It’s a magnificent building that adds not just extra classrooms but a wide range of other facilities that we need to maximise our ability to deliver the highest possible education outcomes for our students.
“It is our plan that Brisbane Central State School remains a vibrant learning community, supporting learners for a global world.
“This new learning centre will helping us to achieve our plan with its first-class facilities and learning spaces,” Mr Grogan said.
