School revamp on roll

PHASE one of Geelong High School’s $20.5 million redevelopment is expected to be ready for term 1 next year, despite getting off to a slow start.

Acting principal Ken Stewart said the floors of the refurbished hall, new music technology facility, dance studio and Year 7 building would be poured next week.

Construction of this stage started in February and was expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Mr Stewart said the developments had “taken a little bit of time to come out of the ground” but were now “tracking quite quickly”.

The school’s old, asbestosriddled buildings were removed by specialists outside school hours.

Mr Stewart said a few small pieces of asbestos sheeting that had since been found in other parts of the building were not of concern.

“There were a few small pieces that weren’t initially visible. They were used as door packings and they haven’t presented a problem,” Mr Stewart said.

“They’ve been bits about the size of a 20-cent piece and they were able to be bagged and removed.”

The site-wide facelift has been designed by award-winning architect firm McGlashan Everist.

The latter part of the renovations will include the removable of portables, the replacement of VCE classrooms, the creation of a student lounge, cafeteria and wellbeing offices.

Mr Stewart said the staged development meant students were not affected by the building work.

“We are explaining to students what is happening and they have said ‘we are part of history’,” Mr Stewart said.

Geelong High School, which has existed for more than 100 years, has a student population of 950. That number is expected to rise to 970 next year.

Mr Stewart said the new Year 7 complex would provide students with greater learning opportunities.