College at odds with Govt on rebuilding

A rebuild of Western Springs College has been discussed since 2011, and there is frustration that a decision on what will be done has still not been made. Photo / Doug Sherring

The board of a large central Auckland school has refused to engage with officials on a multimillion-dollar building programme.

The Western Springs College board has informed Education Minister Hekia Parata and Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye that it is "wholly dissatisfied" with the process around a promised upgrade.

Ms Kaye said there had been "some miscommunication" about the complex project, and she and the Ministry of Education would meet the board again this week.

Frustration has been growing about the school's poor condition and perceived dithering by officials on what to do about it.

The 1300-pupil school was built on a former landfill across the road from the Auckland Zoo entrance in 1963, and has been plagued by subsidence.

Erosion problems have been made worse by leaky-building issues. Potential fixes have been discussed since 2011, and a minimum of maintenance carried out.

The college's problems were made an election issue when Prime Minister John Key and Ms Kaye announced it was one of eight schools that would be prioritised for major redevelopment. But the project has hit a roadblock.

In a letter to parents and students, college board chair Rob Coltman said the ministry had back-tracked on a commitment to present a full school rebuild as an option to ministers.

"[It] has instead proposed options which the community has not been consulted upon. The board understands that business cases for the options presented are currently before Ministers Parata and Kaye.

"The WSC board has told Ministers Parata and Kaye and the ministry that it is wholly dissatisfied with the process to rebuild the school."

Ms Kaye said that, despite "some miscommunication", the ministry was working on the business case and various options. She has previously said the redevelopment will likely cost upwards of $50 million.

"With the geotechnical issues, we need to make sure any option is safe for students, teachers and parents ..." Ms Kaye said.

Dr Stephen Knight-Lenihan, a senior planning lecturer at the University of Auckland and chairman of the school's Parent Action Group, said many parents considered the delays "way beyond a joke".

"The money is there, the political commitment is there. But we don't know what it is we are supposed to be spending the money on because no one will tell us."

Building row

• A rebuild of Western Springs College has been discussed since 2011, and there is frustration that a decision on what will be done has still not been made.

• The college's board has refused to engage with Ministry of Education officials, after saying it believes its preferred option of a full rebuild is not one of the proposed options.

• Associate Education Minister Nikki Kaye will meet the board again this week, and says there has been "some miscommunication" about the project.