Ready to go: Bus and turning bays, footpaths, landscaping and crossings are all in place ready for the school opening. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
“Fiscal constraints” have delayed the opening of Cambridge’s new primary school by two years, The News can exclusively reveal today.
Despite the infrastructure outside the school now largely in place, no buildings have gone up and the only sign of any activity on the 4ha greenfield site are masses of green grass and huge clumps of dirt moved into place by diggers.
Bus and turning bays, footpaths, crossings and landscaping are all completed outside the school’s entrances in the Bridleways Estate west of the town while stormwater infrastructure has been built and the neighbourhood reserve land ready to be developed as a playground.
Erica Stanford
In a cryptic response to The News for an update, new Education minister Erica Stanford said the school’s construction was included in a review of the property delivery schedule before the coalition government was formed.
“The ministry will keep me updated on its priorities for their property delivery schedule,” said Stanford.
Louise Upston
Taupō MP Louise Upston told The News she understood there was strong community support for the school to be opened as soon as possible.
“I appreciate this new timeframe will be frustrating for some.
“I believe this new school will be an important asset for Cambridge to help manage the demands of a growing population, and I will be doing everything I can as local MP to advocate for its delivery.”
Ministry property head Sam Fowler said other Cambridge stakeholder schools and the community have been told the school’s updated delivery timeframe is now term one in 2026.
“This timeframe remains conditional to securing necessary funding.”
No costs have been finalised yet.
Chris Hipkins
Then Education minister Chris Hipkins announced in July 2021 the new school for years one through to six would open in 2024 catering for 300 students and expanding to 650 within the decade to match Cambridge’s projected growth and demand.
Annual operational costs were estimated at $2.682 million with money for the project coming from $428.1 million set aside in Budget 2021 for new schools.
Final gazetting for educational purposes occurred later that year and an establishment board established.
In November 2022, the ministry announced a tight construction market and supplier resources challenges had delayed the opening until term one next year.
A contract to design the project was awarded to Auckland company Form Building & Developments Limited in March last year with completion scheduled for November.
The design was to include a two-storey 1354m2 building with 13 teaching spaces, an administration building, library, resource room, hall, four spaces for learning and behaviour specialists, a learning support unit, caretaker’s shed, hard courts, playground and fencing.
Waipā council approved building consent for stage one enablement and earthworks and is reviewing stage two.
The school’s address is in Hugo Shaw Drive, where this entrance is. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
