By the year 2019, Highfields will have 600 year 11 students, and the same number in year 12.
Senior Constable Chris Brameld, from the HIghfield Police Beat told the forum that this is one of the fastest growing communities with about 600 people moving to the area each year.
“By then, these students will have grown out of the skate park,and the pool won’t interest them anymore,” he said.
“They are our millenniums – tech crazy kids with mobile devices – imagine three years from now, driving down Highfields Road, just after 3pm.
“You have picked-up you child from daycare, or from the local primary school, and decide to drive through the McDonalds to get your child an ice-cream.
“As you enter McDonald’s car park, there are 400-plus year 11 and 12 students loitering there
“To achieve good growth for Highfields we need to ensure our business case includes spaces for our students to go and hang out with friends.”
Highfields State Secondary College, principal Sharon Barker said Highfields needed opportunities for work experience and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
“We need our students to be able to co-exist in the community with the elderly, with families and with business,” she said.
“We need to know that when our students head into the community and wearing our uniform, they have a place where they belong, and where they can be connected both face-to face and technologically.”
Weighing into the debate, Rev Phil West, manager/chaplain of the Brownesholme Retirement Village who said from a seniors point of view Highfields lacks a safe space to sit,mix, learn, relax and interact with all different age groups.
“For a community to have well-being, every age sector needs to feel that they have their place to belong, and all the better if that space overlaps with other age groups, so that a mix can be achieved.
Major Sonny Lynn from Borneo Barracks said it was now time to talk about the site’s expansion.
“Between Oakey and Cabarlah, the Defence whitepaper has nearly half a billion dollars ($450m) in upgrades over the next 20 years,” he said.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
