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.

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.

Building on past consultation with stakeholders, including parents, staff, members of the Board and its subcommittees, and student focus groups, the College is currently seeking broader feedback on the proposed campus masterplan.

As part of the MID, the College is holding a community webinar on Monday 13 February 2023.

There will be a further opportunity to provide feedback to the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning (DSDILGP) as part of the MID process.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.