Ormiston College's Proposed Plans

Ormiston College seeks to fast track clearing of koala trees by requesting ministerial infrastructure designationBy Redlands2030 / July 20, 2025Ormiston College is seeking approval for expansion plans which will involve clearing hundreds of koala habitat trees.
Instead of making a development application to Redland City Council, Ormiston College has applied to the State Government for a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation. As explained below, this development pathway offers a number of benefits to developers including no right of appeal.
Community consultation about Ormiston College’s application is underway with a closing date of 5 September 2025.
Ormiston College’s proposed plansOrmiston College’s proposed plans include a number of new education and administrative buildings, a boarding facility, new aquatic centre with 50 metres pool, new indoor multi-purpose courts with enclosed cricket pitch and nets and a new junior school sports fields with external sports lighting.
Ormiston College

Ormiston Colleges current master plan (above) and proposed master plan (below) 

Environmental impacts

An assessment by JWA Ecological Consultants says that the site is “utilised occasionally by Koalas as they traverse the locality”.

The Koala Action Group contests this assessment and considers that the Consultant’s report does not adequately address the importance of retaining the koala habitat on this site.
Of particular concern to the Koala Action Group is the proposed new junior sports oval in the eastern part of the site. The construction of this facility would require clearing of a great many mature koala trees. The Consultant says that in total more than 650 non juvenile koala habitat trees are to be cleared.
The Consultant’s report says that new koala habitat will be planted on site to replace trees which are cleared. What will the koalas do while the trees are growing?

Ormiston College application for Ministerial Infrastructure Designation

The following documents have been published on the Ministerial Infrastructure Designations public register:

• Environmental Assessment Report – Ormiston College MID.pdf
• Appendix I – Updated Ecology Report.pdf
• Appendix A – Title Searches.pdf
• Appendix B – Existing Master Plan.pdf
• Appendix C – Updated Proposed Master Plan.pdf
• Appendix D – Site Based Stormwater Management Plan.pdf
• Appendix E – Traffic Engineering Report.pdf
• Appendix F – Noise Impact Assessment.pdf
• Appendix G – Bushfire Hazard Assessment.pdf
• Appendix H – Landscape Master Plan.pdf
• Appendix J – Draft Consultation Material.pdf
• Appendix K Preliminary Engagement Responses
• Appendix L – Owners Consent.pdf