Deputy Premier Approves Ormiston College Expansion in Brisbane

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie approved a plan by Ormiston College to build three junior sporting ovals on its Brisbane campus. The approval came through a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation after Redland City Council rejected a comparable application in 2021.

The school submitted new plans directly to the state government in April 2025. Bleijie, who also serves as planning minister, signed the approval on Tuesday. The designation takes effect once it is published in the government gazette, expected on Friday.

Council questioned the school's ecological report during the review. The report stated that one-third of the koala habitat on the site would be removed. It added that clearing would occur in areas with low-level koala activity. Citizen scientists recorded 23 koala sightings on the block in the past year.

Additional sightings were logged within a one-kilometre radius. Bleijie required the school to retain mature trees unless removal is needed for construction or safety reasons.

The government received hundreds of public submissions on the proposal. Most opposed the expansion. Protesters gathered outside the school and Parliament House in the months before the decision. Ormiston College charges between $13,000 and $18,000 per year in fees. The school is known for its sports programs. Ormiston College and the deputy premier have been contacted for comment.