The Department of Education is still deciding on the future of the original school building at Veresdale Scrub State School and is expected to share more in the New Year.
Locals have pushed since late 2021 to save the historic structure – currently used as an administration block – after an engineer deemed the building and an adjacent structure ‘in poor condition’ and ‘not currently fit-for-purpose’.
A letter addressed to residents on 2 November 2021 but not received by many concerned Veresdale Scrub locals encouraged feedback and promised to share outcomes in early 2022.
After advocacy from locals including Cheryl Ardrey, whose family has seen five generations through the school, Scenic Rim MP Jon Krause and local media coverage, the Department held consultation meetings on 6 and 11 August and took online submissions from 22 July.
In a report published on the Veresdale Scrub State School website on 4 November, the Department noted it received 214 pieces of feedback throughout the consultation.
They found 74 per cent of respondents preferred Option One, to restore the existing administration building by rectifying the structural issues, and 26 per cent preferred Option Two, to remove the current building and replace it with a new, fit-for-purpose administration facility.
The Department reported most people want the original building retained.
“Many stakeholders who preferenced Option Two did so while acknowledging the historical significance of the building. Similarly, some of those who preferenced Option One were not opposed to the construction of a new, purpose-built administration facility, providing the original building was retained. To this end, it is acknowledged that a merging of the two options exists for some stakeholders (retaining the original building for a separate purpose),” they wrote.
Traceyann Bridgen, a current parent at the school, told the Bulletin when she spoke with the Department in December, it was still at the decision-making stage and she was reassured there would be no work on the ground until the New Year, after the decision was shared.
“I’m hoping they can see the interest in making sure it stays where it is – we want to still progress with the school and if we need new buildings, we completely understand but there’s no reason they couldn’t keep the original building.”
