Googong primary school artist impression. Photo: school infrastructure.
The already-delayed Gougong Elementary School will open in phases after heavy spring rains cause further construction problems.
However, students will continue to stay on campus from the first day of Semester 1 in 2023.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said despite the delay, the project is expected to be completed within budget and is operationally ready for the next academic year.
“Major work, including the provision of all permanent learning spaces, is expected to be completed before the start of academic year 2023,” they said.
“Landscaping finish and kiss and drop [will occur] in 2023”
The state government is working with contractors to ensure that Phase 1 construction is completed during the school holidays.
According to an update of the project on the School Infrastructure website, “phase one” included all the elements needed to run the school.
“This includes Buildings A, B, C, D, student amenities, walkways, parking lots and external playgrounds,” it said.
“A new pedestrian crossing and sidewalk will be completed on Gorman Drive, and a temporary kiss and drop zone will be installed on Aplacia Avenue.”
Building A contains administrative facilities and a library, while classrooms are located in Buildings B and C. Building D has a dining room and a hall.
Phase 2 work is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. This includes landscaping the remaining playgrounds and installing a permanent kiss and drop zone on Wilkins Way.
“The second-stage landscaping work will be separated from the school community by a 2.1-metre-high temporary fence and will have its own private entrance,” said a project update.
Work will be done Monday through Friday from 7am to 7pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 4pm.
Googong Primary School step-by-step delivery map. Photo: school infrastructure.
In a project already marked by delays, some are frustrated that this update came so close to the summer holidays.
Candice Cox, president of Googong Public School P&C, said the community promised a phased opening in 2023, given that the school was originally announced to operate for a 2022 start. said it was not done.
She said she had been told a month ago that much of the site wouldn’t be ready, and began asking for an explanation for the delay and its impact on the community.
“Personally, I think the budget for the construction phase of the school was too late to comfortably meet the commitments for the first day of 2022, the second trimester, and even later in 2023,” Ms Cox said. I was.
“This year’s heavy rains would have had an additional impact, but I don’t think it’s the only cause.”
However, Cox said he has noticed a significant increase in the number of workers on site and work is progressing at a faster pace.
“I had the opportunity this week to meet some of the workers who said they were brought in to finish school from places like Sydney and Albury,” she said.
“I am very grateful to the construction workers and the extraordinary work they do. [Googong Primary School] Parents. “
Cox was getting more and more messages from concerned parents and was happy to have some reassuring information ahead of the school holidays.
“Communication and transparency are all we ask of the NSW government,” she said.
“Now that it has finally been delivered, we are all working together to minimize the impact on our school and community, and provide the children, principal, and her team with the resources they need to make our school the best it can be. We will make sure that you get the support you need. “
The completed school will accommodate up to 700 students in 30 flexible learning spaces and 3 supporting classrooms. It also has administrative and staff facilities, a library, halls, a covered outdoor study area, and a landscaped playground.
The project was originally promised by former Monaro legislator John Barillaro ahead of the 2018 election.
