First of all it has been a wee while since the last Build Update and there has been a few reasons for this.  One is that the last two PCG meetings – meetings with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Project Manager, have been cancelled and secondly just at this stage of the build things have been happening inside that are not apparent so there has not been much to share.

But having had a meeting with the MOE this week there are a number of updates we can confirm. Supports for internal linings are now in the building and all of the internal fixed walls have now been dropped into place. The underfloor heating system has been installed and we have just received notice that the MOE will now cover the costs of a cooling system to be installed which is in addition to the contract. This is good news because it will allow the school to have a mechanical backup so students and staff will not overheat on the occasional hot days that we can experience.

It is hoped that by the end of next week the fascia boards will be in place and weather dependent they should be painted and spouting installed. Providing the weather behaves itself this will mean the roof could be installed from the 5th December onwards. Next week the builders are expecting aluminium doors and windows to arrive and these will be installed over the next two weeks. Obviously the weather may have some impact on timelines but we expect the building will be closed in by the end of the school year.

Probably the most important piece of information received is the finish date! Hann Construction and the MOE have set 12th April 2019 which is the last day of Term 1, 2019 as the likely handover date for the completed building. This means during the Term 1 holiday break new classrooms will be set up and classes who start the year in Rooms 10 to 17 and most likely the office staff, principal and deputy principal will move into the new building. The thinking is at this stage that the new space created for the library will be used as administration space while the 2 storey block including the office areas are refurbished. While we are a little foggy how this will happen at this stage, through Term 1, 2019 we will be able to provide you with more crisp information. So we do expect fencing around the 2 storey block and works on this area will commence during the Term 1 holiday break.