School plans completed

Press, 28 August 1980, Page 8

School plans completed

Preparatory site work might begin on the new Christchurch Girls High School in Deans Avenue this financial year. Site drawings have recently been’completed and the project’s architects are preparing working drawings. Tenders for the work are likely to be called in May 1982, construction to begin in August, 1982. Some site work could begin much earlier.

The Education Department’s r e gi° na l architect (Mr M. F. Colechinf) said work was progressing smoothly and the department still hoped that the school would be opened in 1985. ■ ‘ A feature of the new school will be the reopening of the old mill stream, with a system of weirs to prevent flooding.-

The original plans for. the school, gnnopnced; in November, 1974, included a subway, under Deans Avenue and a school library: to be built across the old mill stream. They specified sports grounds, tennis courts,' a swimming pool, a gymnasium and a four-stor-ey classroom and administration block near .the old mill site. ■ The estimated cost for . the project then was $2.75 million. Most of the original feasibility study’s recommendations have been kept. The subway is no longer deemed necessary and the stream will be spanned by an arts block. The over-all cost of the main teaching block has doubled.

. Government approval for the new school was given as early as 1972. after a decision to put a Ministerial designation on the site. The

designation was later the subject of an unsuccessful appeal to the Town and Country Hanning Appeal Board. Later there was . controversy over the demolition of the old water mill, built in the 1860 s. The department invited L the Historic Places Trust to examine the structure’s worth in 1974, and decided to salvage only the old turbine-- and gearing. The Ferrymead Trust has them now.

The new school will cover more than 4.4 ha and will cater for a roll of 790 girls. Mr Colechin said that all of the land had been designated for the school. Most of the people “in the way” of the new school had moved and their properties bought by the department; the rest were being bought up slow-