Polytechnic hopes for $15M grant

Press, 24 February 1987, Page 7

Polytechnic hopes for $15M grant

The Christchurch Polytechnic Council hopes that the Government will approve a $l5 million grant towards a new nurses and science students’ training block within a few weeks. -

Approval for the block has already been given by the Education Department, and the Treasury is considering the plans and proposal, according to the director of the Polytechnic, Mr Graham

Logan. “Once the Treasury gives it the nod the proposal is considered by the Cabinet’s sub-com-mittee on social equity, and the Cabinet then makes the final decision,” Mr Logan said. “The multi-storey block will probably be the largest' single building on the Polytechnic site and its proposed location is in the northwest area on the corner of Coventry and William streets.

“Our nursing and science students are taking their classes and laboratories in prefab buildings which will not be

adequate ini future. The multi-storey building will also free up a lot more space for other important facilities tike carparking for • the students,” Mr Logan said. Nursing and science studies were both growth areas of the Polytechnic’s activities, so the council felt the new building, with its more modern facilities, was warranted, he said. “We don’t expect the nursing and science students numbers to Increase on account of this new building as that is more dependent on the employment available for them,” Mr Logan said.

“Proposals for the new block were first launched about five years ago and various applications have been turned down with requests for further thoughts on the proposal. “We feel the building will be a great plus for Christchurch because it will provide a boost for students training in em-ployment-rich areas,” Mr Logan said.