MORE than 10 new schools will be needed in growth areas around Ipswich alone in the next decade to cope with a predicted rise in new students.
The latest school demand maps, which will be released by the State Government on Friday, show almost 30 new primary and high schools will have to be built to meet the demand that new developments are expected to create in Brisbane's south east, Ipswich, Springfield, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Gladstone and Rockhampton.
It follows the first tranche of mapping released early this year which found northern Brisbane, Caloundra and Townsville would need up to 23 new schools by 2031, including 16 primary and seven secondary schools to cater for more than 154,000 students.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the latest lists show the boom area of Ripley will need at least two to four new primary schools and up to two new high schools by 2021 while "significant" new capacity for both primary and secondary schools will be needed by 2031.
Its student population is expected to grow by 18,633 by 2031.
The student population in Brisbane suburbs including Woolloongabba, South Brisbane, West End, Rochdale and parts of Mount Gravatt is expected to grow by almost 6000 students by 2031.
The planning commission found the existing capacity at local schools in the area may not be sufficient with ongoing monitoring required.
Two extra primary schools will eventually be needed to service the new Palmview development in the Sunshine Coast area, while a high school will be needed in the Landsborough area between 2021 and 2031.
A new non-government school could also be needed in Buderim by 2021.
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Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said so far the commission had analysed 14 of the State's 30 growth areas with the remainder to be finished by June next year.
"The maps show that up to 20 primary and up to eight secondary schools may be required by 2031 in areas of Ipswich, Springfield, Brisbane south, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Gladstone and Rockhampton," Mr Langbroek said.
"And those figures are expected to increase due to high school population growth projections for Ripley near Ipswich from 2021."
From Saturday Queenslanders will be able to log on and enter their address online to see where current local schools are located in their area as well as what the projected change in school population will be and where proposed land developments are located or expected to be located between now and 2031.
The information will be available at via the Commission's website: www.education.qld.gov.au/schools/schools-planning-commission
The mapping also shows many existing schools will also need to be expanded to meet expected demand including some primary and secondary schools in Rockhampton.
Gladstone could need around four new primary and secondary schools as well as a new independent school to cope with demand there.
Toowoomba could need up to five new schools as well as the expansion of some existing schools as well.
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