Master Plan

The College has prepared a Master Plan to provide additional learning spaces to current Years 7-12 and to reintroduce Years 5 and 6 in 2025 and 2026.

The Master Plan includes works at our existing campus, 415 Cavendish Road, and adjoining property at 28 Dale Street, Coorparoo that will form part of the overall campus facilities.

To facilitate the proposal, the College is seeking endorsement from the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning through a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation process (MID). A MID is a common alternative town planning approval pathway for social infrastructure providers, including public and private schools.

Project Update – Consultation Stage

A Ministerial Infrastructure Designation has been lodged with the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning for the proposed Master Plan, which includes the following works:

New three (3) storey school building and entrance plaza along Dale Street accommodating learning areas and support services.
Removal, off-site storage and reuse of the pre-1946 house at 28 Dale Street.
Demolition of the Mother Gonzaga Barry Building with retention of the chapel.
New on-street passenger loading bays along Dale Street and Lade Street (south).
Increase of 220 students and 14 staff, to a total of 1150 students and 123 staff.
Refurbishment of the Casket Building.
Extended and improved campus heart landscaping.
Upgraded bicycle parking and end of trip facilities.
Additional on-site car parking.
Improved traffic management procedures.

Proposed Dale Street Building

The full proposal is available to be viewed online via the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning.

The application is now in the Consultation Stage of the assessment process. Submissions can be made to the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning on or before 7 November 2023 about the proposal via:

online: https://statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/mid-consultations
email: infrastructuredesignation@dsdmip.qld.gov.au ; or
post: GPO Box 611, Brisbane, QLD, 4001.

Alternatively, you may wish to discuss the proposal with the College (07 3394 9999, email@loreto.qld.edu.au).

Early Community and Stakeholder Engagement

In February 2023, the College sought early feedback on the proposed Master Plan from the community and stakeholders, with activities including:

A community webinar which was held on 13 February 2023. Access the PowerPoint presentation, including visuals of the plans here. A summary of the Q&A discussion is provided here.
Letters to key stakeholders, followed by one-on-one meetings where requested.
Pre-lodgement meetings with the State Government and Brisbane City Council.
Updates provided to the College community.

Thank you to those who took the time to hear about our plans and share your thoughts. Feedback has been considered, addressed and incorporated into the MID submission.

Next Steps

The consultation stage is open until 7 November 2023. Once it is completed, the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning will provide a copy of the submissions to the College.

The College will consider and address matters raised in the submissions, which may include making any necessary changes to the proposal. The Department will then consider all the information provided and submissions received as part of its assessment and decision.

The College already has a master plan. Why is Loreto revising it now?

The College’s Master Plan has been revised to ensure that Loreto College Coorparoo is well placed to meet the needs of our students both now and into the future. Our learning spaces must be flexible enough to cater for changes to our educational context.

Over the last 10 years, for example, the College has grown by over 200 students including the incorporation of Year 7. The College has received approval to reintroduce Year 5 from 2025 and Year 6 from 2026.

The introduction of the new Senior Assessment and Tertiary Entrance system from 2019 has meant more flexible pathways for Years 11 and 12 students as well as the introduction of new subjects with specific resourcing requirements, which will be supported by the new senior studies centre.

Innovations to technology and the way we access information has also seen changes in the way students and teachers access and use library resources as well as a greater focus on interdisciplinary learning.

The importance of student wellbeing and connectedness is now a priority of the Federal government, as identified in the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration. The role of schooling in this space is predicted to increase.

What is a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID)?

A MID provides an alternative planning approval pathway to a development approval. Through this process, particular public and private infrastructure including schools, can gain a high-level approval for a masterplan concept under the Planning Act 2016.

Who will be consulted?

In February 2023, the College sought early feedback on the proposed masterplan from the community and stakeholders. This built on past consultation with parents, staff, Board members, and students.

As part of the MID process, a formal Consultation Stage will occur for a period of 25 business days allowing the opportunity for stakeholders and the community to provide feedback to the Department.

We will update this page with key dates and how to make a submission once timing is confirmed, with the Consultation Stage likely to commence in mid-April.

In the meantime, if you would like to further discuss the College’s plans, please email consultation@ethosurban.com

How will the masterplan be delivered?

The overall masterplan should be seen as an “opportunities document” which identifies the potential for development on the current site.

The projects have been categorised as either short-term or long-term projects. The order of projects will be determined by feasibility of implementing the project, feedback from community consultation, financial implications, and strategic need.

Pending approval of the MID, the College plans to commence construction of the first stage of works in 2024, which includes:

Removing the 28 Dale Street house and partial demolition of the Mother Gonzaga Barry Building.
A new building consisting of three (3) storeys and a partial fourth storey setback from the street frontage that incorporates general learning areas, administration, collaborative spaces, and senior studies centre.
A new entrance plaza and on-street passenger loading zone along Dale Street.
Refurbishment of the Casket building and landscaping improvements.

Will there be an increase to student numbers?

Currently the College Board is committed to maintaining Loreto as a mid-sized school. The approved classes for 2025 include two classes of Year 5 in 2025 and two classes of Year 6 in 2026 (a total of 100 additional students by 2026). The MID proposal seeks to capacity for up to 150 students in Years 5 and 6 (3 streams) to allow for future growth.

With Years 5 and 6 being reintroduced, will there still be an intake at Year 7?

Yes. The College anticipates two classes in each of Years 5 and 6 in 2026, around 50 students per year. In comparison, the Year 7 intake is generally around 160 students.

With Years 5 and 6 continuing through to Year 7, we expect there will still be an intake of around 110 students in Year 7.

What is the College doing about traffic congestion and parking?

An additional passenger loading zone, along with a new entrance plaza, is proposed at Dale Street. This drop-off area is expected to help ease traffic congestion.

What about green spaces?

One of the valued features of the Loreto grounds are the green spaces, particularly in the heart of the College. It is the intention of the masterplan to retain as much “green space” as possible to ensure a relaxing aesthetic and retain this valued aspect of the College grounds.

The proposed works includes extensive landscaping at the campus heart and surrounding the new Dale Street building as well as a commitment to retain established trees where possible.