New schools go green

FEBRUARY 2009
By Lisa Gilby

Environmental sustainability, wireless internet and al fresco dining areas would have been beyond the comprehension of students and teachers at Queensland's first state schools in the 1850s and 60s.

Yet these are some of the features at Ormeau Woods State High School on the Gold Coast, one of four new Queensland state schools to open in 2009.

All of our new schools have been built with sustainability in mind.

Ormeau Woods principal Ross Wallace recently opened the gates of the school's first stage, which will cater for up to 250 Years 8 and 9 students.

'All of our new schools have been built with sustainability in mind,' Mr Wallace said.

'We will roll through to Year 10 in 2010 and eventually to Year 12 in 2012 when we anticipate enrolments of up to 1500 students,' he said.

Mr Wallace said Ormeau Woods had a strong emphasis on protecting the environment.

'We have six underground water storage tanks, energy efficient lighting and sustainable design features to reduce heating and cooling costs,' he said.

The 38.3 hectare site is mostly bushland with school facilities taking up just one-third of the area.

Ormeau Woods also has the latest in information and communication technology, with internet and wireless capability in every classroom.

'We also have a focal court outside the hospitality building with an al fresco dining area, as well as three state-of-the-art science laboratories, industrial design workshops and business education centre,' Mr Wallace said.

Assistant Director-General, Infrastructure Strategy, Neil Miller said three new primary schools were also opening this year: Norfolk Village State School and Highland Reserve State School on the Gold Coast and Bounty Boulevard State School in Brisbane's north.

'All of our new schools have been built with sustainability in mind,' Mr Miller said.

'We have installed underground rainwater tanks for site irrigation and toilet flushing, and energy efficient lighting.

'Bounty Boulevard, Highland Reserve and Ormeau will also have special education units with a covered student setdown area.'

Mr Miller said the final forecast cost for the four new schools was $91.5 million.