NZ's biggest school rebuild project begins

Press release: NZ's biggest school rebuild project begins

New Zealand’s biggest ever school rebuild project begins this week. Over the next two years, 80% of Western Springs College – Ngā Puna o Waiōrea will be demolished and a state-of-the-art facility built in its place. The project will cost $75 million and the new school will be completed at the end of 2018, with students moving in at the beginning of the 2019 year.

The ‘Whakapūmau Whenua’ (blessing of the earth) marking the start of the project takes place this Friday (September 16) at 10am, and will be attended by Education

Minister Hekia Parata, Mana Whenua – Ngāti Whātua o Ōrākei and 150 invited guests. The powhiri will be followed by a Karakia and a historical kōrero by Ivan Davis (Acting School Principal) and Chris Selwyn (Tumuaki).

WSC Board Chair John Loof says the first stage of the project – setting up a temporary school to house students during the rebuild – will start during the upcoming school holidays, and construction of the new school will begin in the third quarter 2017. He said the size and scope of the project provided an unprecedented opportunity for present and future students, staff and the community.

“This is a new chapter in the history of Western Springs College – Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, the building of a fantastic learning environment for our children and our teachers. The new buildings, which are set to be completed and ready for the start of 2019, will provide facilities we have only been able to dream about until now. I’m a big believer in the importance of the local school as the school of choice for local parents and there is no doubt the redevelopment project will make our school an outstanding asset for the local community.”

Already the Central Auckland school has one of the top academic records in the city. NZQA figures for 2015 show Western Springs College – Ngā Puna o Waiōrea has been the top New Zealand decile 8 state secondary school for seven consecutive years, and has a strong, successful kura kaupapa unit. It was either the number one or the number two performing Auckland region state secondary school every year from 2009 to 2015.

“The rebuild will give Western Springs state-of-the-art facilities that will enhance already outstanding learning outcomes in both mainstream and Waiorea,” Loof says.

The Ministry of Education began discussions on a new school in 2010, with Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye announcing the $75 million redevelopment in November last year. The first stage, setting up a standalone “temporary school” made up of existing buildings and relocatable classrooms, will ensure a safe and productive learning environment is maintained at all times during the project, Loof says.

Meanwhile, the rebuild programme will involve removal of landfill material down to the underlying basalt rock, to provide a strong foundation for the new buildings, and minimise contaminants, he says.

The new school will consist of a large three-storey teaching block, and new sports, library and teaching support facilities. There will be a two–storey block for the school’s Te Reo Māori immersion unit, Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, with twelve new teaching spaces and a Whare Tapere. An additional $4 million will be spent on remediating weathertightness issues at TAPAC (The Auckland Performing Arts Centre), which is on the school grounds.

Western Springs College–Ngā Puna o Waiōrea has an existing roll of 1400 students, but rapid growth in the inner city suburbs means the new school will open with the ability to take 1700 students. And Loof says there’s the potential in the plans to expand to a roll of 2500.

“It’s been a long journey but we are really excited about the start of work on site. We are right on schedule, and the school will be open for the start of the school year 2019.”

© Scoop Media