Significant parts of an Islamic school's proposal for a masterplanned hub in Brisbane's south-west has been rejected by the Brisbane City Council, with the site restricted to educational purposes.
The Australian International Islamic College (AIIC) at Durack lodged a development application, with the council in February 2015 proposing a childcare centre, mosque, a multi-storey residential building, medical centre and aged care facility be built on the school's site at 724 Blunder Road.
On Thursday afternoon the council issued conditional approval, which did not allow the proposed residential building, aged care or shops on the school grounds.
The council permitted boarding facilities for students who lived outside of Brisbane, similar to facilities at many other independent schools, but said no to non-educational residential buildings.
The council's city planning boss Julian Simmonds said most of the feedback council received was about the school expanding into non-education related activities.
"Council has heard this feedback and this approval specifically prevents the college from expanding into an exclusive gated community."
The application received 50 official submissions from the public, of which 18 were valid and 15 of those objected to the proposed masterplanned development.
Residents raised concerns about the scale of the design and associated traffic impacts as well as concerns that an Islamic hub could create segregation in the community.
Cr Simmonds said the approved masterplan was assessed against the Sustainable Planning Act.
"Under state planning laws, council is required to assess all development applications without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, politics or personality," he said.
"Several new classrooms have been approved for the college and a preschool childcare centre.
"A place of worship has also been allowed in line with the previous approval, which will also be used by students and the school community."
Cr Simmonds said the approval of a place of worship was in line with the "common practice" across Australia's independent schools.
"By reducing the scale and uses on the site, council has also minimised noise and traffic impacts and ensured that the allowable development is consistent with site's zoning for education."
Cr Simmonds said the council assessed the proposal for a shop on the school site but determined it could not be part of the school and would have to be separate.
Local councillor Steve Griffiths said the council's decision was good for the community, but he had concerns about the development.
"I still have concerns that it's still allowing education land be rezoned for development of retail and medical centre," he said.
"They are still allowing that to occur but from a traffic point of view it's more sensible."
Cr Griffiths said the actual number of submissions received for the application were 193, with that figure including all submissions, not just those received during the official public comment period.
Cr Simmonds said the shop and the medical facility had been approved hard up against Blunder Road.
"They will be open to the public and accessible to the public," he said.
"Durack is a growing area and what the planning officers have considered is there is a need for that kind of facility in Durack that's open to the public, but I would stress they are separate and outside of the gates of the school and open to all residents."
It is entirely up to the school if it acts as a landlord to the shop and medical centre or runs them.
Opposition city planning spokeswoman Shayne Sutton said the planning outcome was a hard-fought win for the local councillor and the community.
"We have always argued that the application be considered on planning grounds alone," she said.
"It doesn't matter who makes an application. If it doesn't accord with the city plan, it shouldn't go ahead."
The school and people who made submissions during the community consultation stage were entitled to appeal the council's decision.
Under the masterplan, 2.7 hectares of wetlands and bushland would be protected and transferred to public ownership.
Fairfax Media has approached AIIC for comment.
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