On returning to school this year families were shocked to find that the wonderful heritage veranda had been roughly closed in by Education Queensland – with aluminium windows added to complete the transformation from "heritage gem' to "renovation from hell".

"This is nothing short of taxpayer-funded vandalism of a precious part of our early-settler heritage," Mr Walker said.

"It is another example of the type of arrogant abuse of public money that has flourished under Anna Bligh and Labor, and which has been condoned here in Mansfield by the Premier's representative Phil Reeves.

"It is also an example of the very type of waste and mismanagement we need to eliminate in order to get Queensland's budget back under control and regain Queensland's AAA credit rating.

"I'm told the Education Department has now agreed to go back and do the job again, with proper consideration of the heritage significance of the school house, That's fine, but it should never have come to this.

"This job has been rushed and botched. It will now cost the taxpayer a lot more money to have this work undone and then done properly. It's an example right here in our backyard of Labor waste costing us dearly."

Wishart Councillor Krista Adams says that no consultation took place with Brisbane City Council's Heritage Unit. "Our heritage officers are well aware that heritage buildings often need to be updated to cope with modern operational needs, but this should always be done sensitively and with proper regard to the heritage values of the place"

Cr Adams said that the Education Department now acknowledged that the work had been botched and had undertaken to start again and get it right this time.