Fast-track claim a ‘cop out’
Concrete slabs have been stacked into makeshift steps so Christchurch Girls’ High School (CGHS) students can enter their classrooms.
The school’s land has slumped during its much-needed rebuild and it is feared further delays will squeeze space for its 1100 students.
The Ministry of Education says the school’s $27 million redevelopment was among 17 projects in the Christchurch schools rebuild programme that started ahead of schedule.
But board chair Mike Lay called claims CGHS was fast-tracked ‘‘misleading’’ and a ‘‘cop-out’’. He said its 2018 rebuild was only pushed ahead to 2015 after ‘‘extensive lobbying’’ by the board of trustees.
Its master plan was scrapped after the ministry reassessed its roll and a new one was yet to be completed.
The board of trustees had spent $700,000 extending its gym to accommodate students during the redevelopment.
Its auditorium rebuild, delayed three times in as many years, had ‘‘potentially put back two other projects by a year,’’ Lay said. ‘‘The ministry appear oblivious to the impact these delays have.’’
Ministry head of the Christchurch schools rebuild Angela Hawkings said CGHS, which was on TC3 land, was a ‘‘very complicated’’ site. ‘‘There are about five different projects involved in that.’’
Lay said it was ‘‘irresponsible of the ministry’’ to place a heavily-damaged school like CGHS so far back in its rebuild programme to begin with.
‘‘When the [ministry’s] head of infrastructure service says ‘These delays are within the range expected’, it is a major concern for all schools.
‘‘Its about fixing the root cause. Until that is done the delays will continue.’’