Xavier College developments

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33443, 26 January 1974, Page 17

Xavier College developments

An Australian firm has been commissioned to do a population and feasibility study related to the redevelopment of Xavier College on a new site of 36 acres near Queen Elizabeth II Park.

This has been made public in an article written for the “Tablet” by the former rector of Xavier College (Brother Bosco Camden) and a Christchurch lawyer (Mr L. M. O’Reilly). The Australian firm, Civil and Civic Pty, handles most of the development work for schools built in Australia for Roman Catholic education authorities.

The study will be present-; ed to the Christchurch Catholic Education Board: by July and then; the firm may be commis-; sioned to proceed to the; next stage of planning, and! eventually of building the new school.

Outlining the background to redevelopment of the college, the article emphasised that the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (Most Rev. B. P, Ashby) wished that all parishes and other groups represented on the Christchurch Catholic Education Board to take a

“real part in planning for the future.” MANY FACTORS

In undertaking to redevelop the college, the Xavier Development Committee is taking into consideration the optimum size for a school; consultation with city planning authorities; use of city facilities; the effect of a new school on other schools, both State and private; the extent of co-education and planning 'or this staffing, especially for a possible girls’ school; long-term plans for the present (Barbadoes Street) site; and the needs of Roman Catholic pupils in Christchurch south.

“Because of the magnitude of the task, it has long been thought desirable that a fulltime expert be appointed'to oversee the project—even now there is a fair amount of business simply on account of the ownership of the (new) property,” said the article.