On 22 May 2013, the Government of Queensland announced the shortlist of candidates to build 10 new schools under a public private partnership.

The 10 new schools would consist of two secondary and eight primary schools, catering for up to 10,800 students during peak periods of enrolment. The schools will employ up to 540 teachers and 130 non-teaching positions, with the first schools expected to be open for the commencement of the 2015 academic year.

The project is a public-private partnership that would see private companies contracted to finance, design, construct and maintain the package of schools.

The short-listed bidders are:

1. Inspire Schools Partnership (Leighton Contractors Infrastructure Partners Fund; Uberior Infrastructure Investments (No.4) Limited, Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd.)
2. Edvantage (Plenary Group, Palisade Investment Partners Limited, Watpac Construction Pty Ltd, Delta FM Australia Pty Ltd.)
3. Exemplar Education (Lend Lease Infrastructure Investments Pty Ltd, JANA Investment Advisors Pty Ltd, Baulderstone Queensland Pty Ltd, Spotless Facility Services Pty Ltd)
4. Bright Futures Partnership (Bilfinger Project Investment International Holding GmbH, J Hutchinson Pty Ltd, Transfield Services (Australia) Pty Ltd)

The Project will have a five-year construction phase.

Following the Government's consideration of a detailed evaluation process,  the four consortia have been invited to develop binding bids for the Project. The request for binding bid process will commence by the middle of the year with the successful proponent expected to be confirmed by the end of the year.

Source: Queensland Government