School to ramp up M1 agony

RESIDENTS are furious that the State Government wants to build a $60 million school on one of the city’s most clogged roads, saying it already takes them 20 minutes to travel 150m.

A 1200-student school has been earmarked for a 7.6ha lot on Yawalpah Rd at Pimpama, off M1 Exit 49.

State planning documents reveal the primary school is proposed to open in 2021.

However, the Government is yet to announce any major road upgrades for the area.

Area councillor Cameron Caldwell yesterday said works were under way to widen Yawalpah Rd to four lanes, giving it the capacity to take the extra cars, “but ultimately motorists will hit a brick wall once they get to the M1”.

Pimpama mother Lehlah Rio said congestion had almost driven her to leave the suburb after her three-minute dropoff to schools on nearby Dixon Drive slowed to a crawl.

“It should take three minutes. It takes 23. Ain’t nobody got time for that,” she said. “Exit 49 is a disaster.” Member for Coomera Michael Crandon said the Government must commit to upgrading the M1 interchange before any proposed school is built.

“I would hope money is being committed to upgrade Exit 49 before, otherwise we will have further traffic added to the line-up,” he said.

“We need the money committed this budget year.”

Cr Caldwell said he welcomed the investment in services to the Pimpama area but was “extremely concerned that the state’s infrastructure spend on the M1 and the exits was not keeping up with the population growth.”

State Transport Minister Mark Bailey last night said: “Labor is getting this work done after the lost Newman years.

“We’re planning the upgrade for Exit 45 at Ormeau, and business cases are under way for Exit 38 Yatala North and Exit 41 Yatala South.

“Community consultation is happening now for the fully funded $25 million to upgrade the Oxenford Exit 57 Interchange.

“This work on the M1 exits is supported by $2.3 billion secured for four M1 upgrades under state Labor.”

The official name of the school is yet to be determined but, if approved, it would open with a population of between 380 and 400 students in its first year, growing by about 300 per year to peak at 1200 students.

The Queensland Department of Education tipped Coomera and Pimpama to balloon by 300 per cent by 2036.

It acknowledged there would be pressure on schools in the area as the number of children exceeded the state average.

The Department of Housing and Public Works will be taking submissions on the proposal before May 31.