EXPANSION: Ormiston College is expanding. INSET: Koala watchers and a koala seen in a tree.
AMANDA Stoker MP has defended the approval of the controversial Ormiston College expansion as protests, arrests and fresh koala concerns intensify at the site.
The project – approved with nearly 40 environmental conditions – came under renewed scrutiny after a young koala reportedly halted works at the college last week.
The State Member for Oodgeroo, Mrs Stoker said the safeguards were critical in balancing improved educational facilities with environmental protections.
“Our community should expect growing schools to deliver quality facilities for local children, but it is equally important that development is managed carefully and responsibly,” she said.
“That is why I’m pleased to see it approved with careful conditions attached to ensure the protection of our environment and amenity.”
The approval allows the school to deliver refurbished buildings, new learning spaces, a boarding house, an aquatic centre, sporting facilities, parking and landscaping.
The development will involve the removal of 54 koala fodder trees, but conditions require at least 526 replacement koala food trees to be planted, Mrs Stoker said.
“The approval includes nearly 40 conditions covering koala and vegetation management, stormwater, traffic, bushfire, lighting, landscaping, acoustics, construction management and ongoing ecological assessment,” she said.
“Importantly, there are areas of protected vegetation where no clearing can occur, other than for bushfire or pest management, and the approval requires at least 526 koala food trees to be planted, with measures to provide koala fodder while those new trees mature.
“The decision also requires a Vegetation and Fauna Management Plan, fauna spotters during clearing, staged clearing requirements, koala fencing, fauna-sensitive lighting and a final ecological assessment after the works are complete.
“The assessment determined that, with these conditions, the project would result in no net loss of habitat function for koalas.”
Mrs Stoker acknowledged the community concern surrounding the project following protests and hundreds of public submissions.
“People in the Redlands care deeply about our koalas, and that is a good thing,” she said.
“There will always be different views about how to balance better local facilities with environmental concerns, but this decision has taken meaningful action to address those concerns.”
