The wait is almost over

Horsham College students are preparing to move into long-awaited new classrooms as work on the school’s multimillion-dollar redevelopment continues to progress according to schedule.

The college is undergoing a major transformation program as it moves towards operating the whole school, which includes two neighbouring campuses, from its Baillie Street site.

Principal Rob Pyers said year seven and 12 students would move into a new classroom block by the end of the term.

“We’re working through a full transition process, so there will be a staggered entry into the new buildings,” he said.

“Eventually this building will have sevens, eights and 10s. The philosophy for that was around student feedback and the development of the overall concept of the buildings, which was led by the architects and the school leadership group.”

Mr Pyers said portable classrooms on the college’s Dimboola Road site would be moved to the Baillie Street site at the end of the term to form a year nine centre.

The centre will go next to a new science and arts wing, the next major building to be completed.

“That’s being handed over to us in September,” Mr Pyers said.

“It will have four science rooms, two general-purpose classrooms, a multi-media room, a green room, recording booth, two general-purpose art classrooms and a large, open workspace.

“It is based around science and arts. That is the big drive in education at the moment, science-arts-technology and creative and innovative programs, supporting students to be cutting edge and the next drivers of innovation and the economy.

“The senior school will be attached to it as well.

“It will be the home of year 11s and 12s, eventually.”

Mr Pyers said a double storey classroom building on Dimboola Road was also part of the redevelopment program.

“That’s the next stage for the school to manage and that will be where all the alternative pathways will run from.

“They’re currently at the special school,” he said.

“The alternative pathways program students will move in there at the end of the year.”

The college redevelopment follows years of lobbying the State Government for resources to replace dilapidated buildings.

The government allocated capital funding of $10-million for a rebuild in March, 2014.

“The school has put in about $600,000 of its own money,” Mr Pyers said.

“Altogether with GST it will be about an $11-million project. Considering it was originally estimated at $20-million, to get it to this point

“Science and the arts. That is the big drive in education at the moment, science-arts-technology and creative and innovative programs, supporting students to be cutting edge and the next drivers of innovation and the economy” – Rob Pyers

is pretty amazing. A rare thing you’ll hear when talking about government building works is that this project is on time and on budget.

“Resicare, the company building it, and the local tradesmen involved in the build, have been outstanding.”

Mr Pyers said about 80 percent of contractors used came from the Wimmera.

“I can’t speak highly enough about them,” he said.

Mr Pyers said he looked forward to seeing students use the new and refurbished buildings.

“Any time a facility gets opened up, it’s a case of managing your excitement and being realistic about how much work has gone in by the staff, the college council and the community to be able to get to this point,” he said.

“What you’re seeing is the results of that – a facility that is going to set up education for this school for the next 20 to 30 years.

“It’s a big responsibility – one we don’t take lightly, as a council or a school leadership group – but it’s certainly one we’re pretty excited about.”