Pickleball plan for historic Brisbane school site on brink of ruin

An area of Brisbane better known for its heavy industry could soon be home to recreational games of pickleball, beach tennis and padel ball.

Plans lodged with Brisbane City Council this week promise to breathe new life into the former Pinkenba State School site, where vandalised buildings are currently boarded up and fenced off.

The school was mothballed in 2008 and has since fallen into disrepair, amid debate over whether it should become part of Pinkenba’s industrial area or remain a community facility for locals and visitors.

Under the new plans, a Pinkenba Sports Precinct would take up much of the site and potentially open within months. The former school buildings would be maintained and likely subject to a future, complementary development application.

With parking for more than 100 vehicles off Serpentine Road, the precinct, if approved, would have six pickleball courts on the most prominent corner of the site.

There would also be six beach tennis courts, six padel ball courts, and shipping containers converted into food outlets, a pro shop, and player amenities.

Beach Tennis Brisbane owner-manager Quentin Durieu already has courts at Northshore Hamilton but has been looking for a larger facility where players could also socialise after games.

Having started with three courts two years ago, then quickly expanded to nine, Beach Tennis Brisbane now has more than 200 members.