No sign of changes to reserve

A POORLY placed sign has been blamed for sparking community division over a proposed school sports field.

King’s Christian College is seeking Gold Coast City Council’s approval to expand its school facility with a new athletics track and sports field at its Reedy Creek campus.

The proposal also includes plans for a carpark.

The track and field would be open for public use on weekends, if approved.

A majority of it would be developed on 1.62ha of schoolowned land.

Some council-owned easements and small areas next to the school’s property would also be used.

The proposal sparked heated debate among residents in a Mudgeeraba Facebook community group, with some praising it and others concerned about more development.

Nearby resident Glennis Ford said she had concerns.

“I think any sort of change to the environment is going to affect the wildlife,” she said. “It will be interesting to see how many trees do get removed.”

But school spokesman Stephen Wruck said the placement of a sign advertising the proposed development had “misled” residents into thinking the field would disturb the nature reserve next to Eden View Drive.

Division 9 Councillor Glenn Tozer confirmed the development would not affect the reserve.

Another nearby resident with children attending the school, Melanie McKnight, has thrown her support behind the proposal.

She said students were forced to travel to other sports centres for soccer games and athletics due to a lack of space.

“It’s a huge issue and it’s an issue that is getting bigger,” Ms McKnight said.

“It’s going to be open space, not a building.

“The school needs to grow.” Mr Wruck said the school had been planning the development for many years.

“Any school will tell you they would want more sports fields,” he said.

Submissions for the application close on December 17.

The council’s planning committee will review the project in 2022.