Gobbling up greenfields
Taupō MP Louise Upston has defended the deferral of Cambridge’s new primary school saying the Education ministry had to prioritise funding based on where need was the greatest.
The infrastructure, including footpaths, turning bays, lights and landscaping are already in place for the school which is now on hold. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Louise Upston
Despite the infrastructure outside the school in the Bridleways Estate now largely in place, the ministry announced last week a School Property Review showed the Year one to six school would have to wait.
Cambridge High School will receive new teaching and non-teaching spaces as well as the completion of weathertightness work already underway. Cambridge Middle School has two teaching spaces currently under construction which will be completed in October this year.
“The government inherited a school property system bordering on crisis, making it clear this review was needed. The previous government failed to sufficiently implement a value-for-money approach, resulting in schools being promised building projects that were not able to be delivered on, and significant cost blow-outs,” said Upston.
“This review ensures that we can deliver the school property our children deserve, while protecting taxpayers from further cost blowouts,” she said.
“Redevelopments, roll growth and new school projects are being prioritised to address immediate capacity and overcrowding risks,” Ms Upston says.
The deferred projects would be eligible for funding in future financial years.
Publicity for the new school is still on the Bridleways Estate website
Upston said the government supported publicly funded charter schools as they provided parents and students with more choice.
“They also give educators more autonomy to deliver according to the needs of the students, as long as the contracted requirements are met. I am unable to comment on an individual application, but I am excited at this possibility for Cambridge. I will watch with interest,” she said.
The News reported last week a Waipā couple hopes to set up one of 15 charter schools the coalition government approved in this year’s Budget.
Ray and Maxine Nelson – founders and directors of Ignite Arts Academy in Cambridge – are working with education consultant and former principal Alwyn Poole on an application due August 9.
See: School on hold
See: Six weeks on, we told you
See: Late for school
See: Council has it Taylor made
Bridleways Estate
