With housing estates on their doorstep, the Scott family farm in the Ipswich suburb of Ripley has become a rare haven for echidnas, lorikeets and koalas which have lost habitat to rapid development.
The property on the outskirts of Brisbane is also a haven for the Scott family — with 41 members of three generations of the family living harmoniously on the farm they have occupied for 130 years.
But a letter that arrived quietly in the mail earlier this month has put the future of the historic property in doubt.
The Queensland government has proposed to put a school on their farm and, given its position in an area earmarked for accelerated growth, they have limited powers to object.
With a housing crisis on its hands, there is no doubt more housing is needed in south-east Queensland, but tension between the need to accommodate new residents and preserve history is growing in the suburbs.
Loss of farm land a 'devastating' prospect for Scott family
The school destined to be built on the Scott's farm is one of 22 new state schools proposed for Ripley students by 2040.
John Scott said if it goes through, the school would bisect the farm.
"If they do take those 39 acres, it will be fairly devastating for the property operation here because that's our access to our cultivation area," he said.
Eric Scott said looking out over the property's western fence line was a much different vista to what it was 50 years ago.
"Some of these trees have been here for hundreds of years," Mr Scott said.
"We've probably got every kind of wildlife here you can think of — probably the only ones we haven't got are crocodiles and emus. You name it, they come over in this area because there's nowhere else to go."
It is not the first time the farmers have been tapped on the shoulder.
"We've been approached several times to sell, but we don't want to sell, we just hope that they find somewhere else," John Scott said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the department said the proposed locations were indicative for the purposes of public consultation which was open for more than a month, and that the school would not be required until 2041.
Ipswich to double in size in 20 years
Brisbane's western corridor is undergoing a population explosion that is only expected to escalate.
Young families in search of space and affordable housing are moving to Ipswich and surrounding suburbs in droves, making it the fastest-growing local government area (LGA) in regional Queensland for the last two years.
The population of Ipswich is expected to double and overtake the Sunshine Coast within 20 years and nowhere is that growth more evident than in the Ripley Valley.
For kilometres along the Centenary Highway, drivers speed by hectares of cleared land, rapidly-built homes and shopping centres and signs selling the Australian dream.
The valley is subject to Priority Development Area declaration — a special state government power brought in quickly during the Bligh government that reduces red tape to accelerate and coordinate development in rapidly growing areas.
But the legislative instrument also reduces the capacity of landholders to object to plans and appeal against decisions.
Local soccer club forced to turn players away
The Ripley Valley Football Club was started in 2018 by Dave Wilson and three friends in response to the growing demand for a local club.
It has since grown so quickly that it now has to cap the number of new players it can accept.
"We're basically full now, we're at capacity, so we're having to turn several kids and parents away from the club," Mr Wilson said.
"We are starting to outgrow the facility as well, so it just needs to stay manageable."
Many of the parents with children at the club are new to the area, including mum Hayley, who moved from Tasmania with her family five years ago.
"It's close to the school, the kids have got their soccer club now, their sports teams — everything is here," she said.
Mum Rachael said the area has all the services her family needs but still maintains a community feel.
"I think the train is the only thing missing but it's on the cards for some time down the track."
Marginal status good news for growing region
Connectivity and infrastructure have been shaping up to be deciding factors for the area, which falls within the seat of Blair — the second-most marginal seat in Queensland at just 1.2 per cent.
The federal race will see fresh-faced commercial real estate agent Sam Biggins up against long-serving Labor MP Shayne Neumann, who has been the sitting member since 2007.
Both Labor and the LNP have committed funding for a business case for a rail line connecting Ipswich to Ripley and Springfield.
"They've been taking the electorate for granted, we've had 15 years of no investment," LNP candidate Sam Biggins said.
But Shayne Neumann said a lack of willingness to act was the reason the region had been left behind.
"I think after nine years of the Morrison government neglecting our region, there's a much-needed requirement for more infrastructure in our area," he said.
For a council dealing with coming out of administration in the wake of flood and housing crises, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said action was needed at all levels to cope with the massive incoming population growth.
"So the state and federal governments are really lagging when it comes to investing here. In the last few budgets, we haven't received much money when it comes to infrastructure," Ms Harding said.
