STATE Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne has challenged the Queensland Government’s decision to allocate $10 million to King’s Christian College, a proposed independent school in Walloon that is still awaiting development approval.
In an email to Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek, Ms Bourne said residents were questioning how a yet-to-be-built school could receive such a large funding boost while Walloon State School continues to face unresolved safety concerns.
“I note that within the list of funding there is $10 million for King’s Christian College which is planned to be situated within my electorate,” Ms Bourne wrote.
“I would like to enquire about this funding, considering the school is yet to build.”
The proposed school is currently under assessment by Ipswich City Council.
A Council spokesperson confirmed the application was still in the public notification stage, with submissions having closed on August 1.
“Ipswich City Council is assessing the application by King’s Christian College to build a new campus,” the spokesperson said.
“Once the notification period ends and the Department of State Development provides its response, Council will have 26 business days to make a decision.”
The Queensland Department of Education defended the funding allocation, stating that support for non-state schools was part of a broader initiative to meet growing demand for education facilities.
“The Queensland Government provides substantial capital funding to maintain and renew existing state schools and deliver new state schools in areas of population growth,” a department spokesperson said.
“There is high demand for this funding from non-state schools, and robust arrangements are in place to prioritise the allocation of this funding.”
The department also confirmed it would “continue to work with Walloon State School to support the school with its infrastructure needs”, but gave no firm commitment to address ongoing safety concerns at the site.
Parents have repeatedly called for a higher front fence to protect students from heavy traffic on the adjoining road.
Ms Bourne said the community was frustrated by the funding decision.
“The community will struggle to understand how a brand-new school that hasn’t even been approved yet can receive $10 million, while a school with a clear safety need is told there’s no money available,” she said.
