$150,000 pledge for school study

THE LNP has committed $150,000 to launch a business case investigating the viability of a new high school at Westbrook if it wins government on October 31.

It’s the second major local election commitment from the party since election season officially began on Tuesday.

Condamine MP Pat Weir said the potential school would see hundreds of students from neighbouring primary schools like Bunkers Hill, Wyreema, Cambooya and Drayton feed into it.

“The first step is the business case,” he said.

“We’ve asked for this many times from the (current State Government), but now we’ve put it on the table if we were to win government.

“Local parents are very keen and enthusiastic for this to happen.”

In July, Labor Education Minister Grace Grace said a new high school in the western suburbs of Toowoomba was on the government radar.

“(West Toowoomba) is one of those growing areas and at this stage the Department of Education has got it on its radar,” she said.

“We don’t have a firm date at this particular time.”

The business case for the school was one of several promises made by Mr Weir yesterday.

Others included $900,000 to install a sliplane for trucks turning onto Oakey-Pittsworth Rd off the Warrego Highway and $215,000 to turn 500m of Oakey’s Showground Rd into a bitchumen road, to stop dust flying into the Oakey Show.

Free breakfasts

Toowoomba Greens candidates Thomas Coyne (South) and Alyce Nelligan (North) have announced the party would fund a universal, free school breakfast and lunch program in every state school. “With our community struggling under the weight of record unemployment and a once-in-a-generation recession, this plan will bring much-needed relief for struggling families,” Ms Nelligan said.