Council embarks on school partnership

An opportunity has risen at Western Springs College, in order to meet the demand for the lack of indoor sport facilities around Auckland.

Auckland Council, the Ministry of Education, Sport New Zealand and Auckland Sport and Recreation, have proposed a collaboration with the secondary school to help fund its rebuild.

The $79 million rebuild is focused on the creation of a three-storey block, to maximise open space around the school.

The council suggested it would pay for four additional indoor sports courts for the school and community to use.

The Environment and Community Committee chair councillor Penny Hulse confirmed the council would contribute up to $2 million towards the design, engineering and build of the additional indoor courts, with a full business case for construction to be developed as part of the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan.

“Demand will only expand as our city grows,” she said.

Sharon Rimmer, Auckland Council's strategic partnership specialist, said the council’s sport and recreations division, as well as the other parties were looking to foster opportunities for investment and greater sharing of school and community assets.

“Partnerships with schools offer significant opportunities to maximise the value of combined investment, improved operational sustainability, optimise utilisation and develop better quality facilities.”

Former Western Springs College Student Hannah Moselen, thought it was a great idea the school was finally being offered new facilities, but hoped there would be restrictions on when it was open to the public.

Western Springs College principal Ivan Davis, said that there was still some investigation into the project to be done before the school confirmed the partnership.