Girls’ High rebuild still up in the air

Christchurch Girls’ High School’s beleaguered rebuild will stay on hold over summer.

A new plan is expected to be drawn up in the new year – three years after the former principal expressed ‘‘extreme frustration’’ over the lack of progress.

The $27 million redevelopment of the earthquake-damaged school, which is on TC3 land, was originally to start in 2018. This was brought forward to 2015 after lobbying by its board of trustees.

However, the work was hampered by delays. By April this year, the rebuild had stalled due to the complexity of the work and the need to give the school a break due to ‘‘project fatigue’’.

Kim Shannon, head of education infrastructure service at the Ministry of Education, said the redevelopment was ‘‘a challenging project on a small site’’.

‘‘A significant challenge for the design team is to ensure the school is kept operational with minimal disruption while we complete the redevelopment, while ensuring the final design meets the school’s requirements.

‘‘We expect to be able to confirm a preferred option to the school community in early 2020.’’

Former principal Pauline Duthie wrote to parents in March 2017 to say the ‘‘ongoing delays and the Ministry of Education’s inability to meet deadlines have caused extreme frustration for both the board and staff’’.

On Sunday, the Government announced a $396 million funding package to improve school property,

‘‘We expect to be able to confirm a preferred option to the school community in early 2020.’’

Kim Shannon Education Ministry

worth $693 per state school student. Christchurch Girls’ High School will receive $400,000, but it is not known whether it will go towards the rebuild.

Principal Christine O’Neill said the money was a ‘‘positive move’’ and called the school’s relationship with the ministry ‘‘constructive and collaborative’’.

She said the school was waiting to find out when construction would resume.