North Canterbury school's long-awaited $10m upgrade set for end of year
From Adam Burns Local Democracy Reporter
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Multimillion-dollar upgrades at a North Canterbury school may finally be set in motion after the prospect of a burgeoning school roll forced a rethink.
The $10 million redevelopment of Oxford Area School was confirmed four years ago by Education Minister Chris Hipkins and includes the replacement of 11 prefabricated classrooms, a new library and administration block and upgrades to other facilities.
It is the only school in the small Waimakariri town of Oxford. Several other schools in the North Canterbury region also received Government-backed improvements over the past few years.
Principal Mike Hart said construction was earmarked for the end of 2022, although this was a “best-case scenario”.
The previous few years had been marked by rebuild scopes, development of an education brief, and the completion of a long-term master plan last year.
It was previously hoped the build would begin early this year, but now the end of 2022 was considered more realistic.
Hart said catering to the potential growth of pupils during the planning phase had possibly slowed the project.
“A positive projection of the school roll made us think about the size and perhaps having something a bit bigger than we originally thought,” he said.
The predicted school roll for 2022 is 545, but the master plan accommodates for 800.
Detailed design is now the focus for school leaders as headway is sought on the project.
“About three quarters of the year will be spent on [detailed design],” Hart said.
He was hopeful of the build getting under way before the end of the year.
“Whether it is some demolition taking place because we have to remove some buildings to create the space,” Hart said.
“Hopefully some construction will take place by the end of this year. There's lots of factors that determine that.”
Oxford Area School, which caters for year 1 to 13 pupils, opened in 1978, replacing the 100-year Oxford District High School.
Most of the school's existing infrastructure dated back to the Bay Rd site's previous incarnation.
The school's principal agreed that some buildings were now out-of-date.
“They're really old and cost our school a lot of money to update them and keep them as fresh as we can,” Hart said.
Rangiora after-hours clinic faces more delays
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The wait continues for a promised North Canterbury after hours healthcare facility.
Work is yet to begin on the proposed new Rangiora Medical Centre at the Rangiora Health Hub on Ashley St, which was first proposed more than five years ago.
The Waimakariri District Council granted a resource consent for the project in 2022, while the building consent is still being processed.
A council spokesperson said the application was on hold while some civil construction details are resolved by the applicants’ consultants.
‘‘We hope to be able to grant the consent in the very near future.’’
The Ministry of Health entered into an agreement with South Link Health Group in 2021 to build the after hours facility, following a petition being presented to the former Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) two years earlier.
South Link Health Group is a network of 26 medical practises, and is responsible for funding and constructing the new facility.
It will include full radiology services (ultrasound, CT and MRI scans), GP services, a pharmacy, and urgent after hours healthcare.
A spokesperson for South Link Health said in December work was expected to begin on the site in March, with the medical centre on track to open in the first half of 2025.
In the meantime, limited after hours healthcare is available at Durham Health, Rangiora, and the Amberley Medical Centre, and at local pharmacies.
Residents can ring 111 in an emergency, contact their GP to speak to a triage nurse, call Healthline 0800 611116 for free advice from a nurse, or arrange online video consultations with a doctor (for a charge).
The after hours triage service is delivered by Whakarongarou and operates in North Canterbury, with access to a St John paramedic if a face to face assessment is required.
A rural after hours service, Ka Ora Telecare, offers phone or video consultations with a doctor. Go to kaora.co.nz/app/services/sub-services/3. The Pegasus 24 Hour Surgery in Christchurch is also available.
■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.
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