North Canterbury News: January 27, 2022
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NEWS<br />
2 The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>January</strong> <strong>27</strong>, <strong>2022</strong><br />
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OAS multimillion upgrade soon<br />
By ADAM BURNS<br />
LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER<br />
Long awaited multimillion dollar<br />
upgrades to OxfordArea School may<br />
finally be set in motionafter the<br />
prospect of aburgeoning school roll<br />
forced arethink.<br />
PrincipalMike Hart said<br />
construction on the project,whichwas<br />
firstconfirmed fouryears ago by the<br />
Ministry of Education, was earmarked<br />
for the end of <strong>2022</strong>,although this was a<br />
‘‘best case scenario’’.<br />
The $10 million redevelopment<br />
includes thereplacement of 11<br />
prefabricated classrooms, anew<br />
library and administrationblockand<br />
upgrades to other facilities.<br />
The past few years, following the<br />
2018 announcement by Minister of<br />
Education Chris Hipkins, have been<br />
marked by rebuild scopes,<br />
development of an education brief and<br />
the completion of along term master<br />
plan lastyear.<br />
It was previously hoped thatthe<br />
construction would begin early this<br />
year.<br />
However, the end of <strong>2022</strong> is now<br />
considered more realistic.<br />
Mr Hart sayscatering to the<br />
potentialgrowth of pupils duringthe<br />
planning phase had possibly slowed<br />
the project.<br />
‘‘A positiveprojection of the school<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> events take atumble<br />
From Page 1<br />
It is the second time in five years the<br />
Kaikoura A&P show has been cancelled —<br />
once due to the 2016 earthquakeand once<br />
because of the pandemic.<br />
Secretary Laura Page says it was a<br />
difficult decision.<br />
‘‘We’vegone back and forth for weeks,<br />
but we just couldn’t see away to run it<br />
safely.’’<br />
‘‘It’sgutting for us becausewebring<br />
peopleinto the area, which our businesses<br />
so badlyneed.’’<br />
It is also the secondtime the Oxford<br />
show has been cancelled due to the<br />
pandemic.<br />
Show presidentLeititia Schroeder says<br />
it is ‘‘gutting’’ for the committee,<br />
exhibitors,community, and local<br />
businessesthat the show has had to be<br />
cancelled,but the committee could not<br />
find an economicway of runningthe<br />
annualeventwith alimit of 100 spectators.<br />
The committee wants to thank its loyal<br />
sponsors, and the many volunteerswho<br />
support to the show.<br />
It was now focused on looking forward to<br />
2023.<br />
The Hanmer SpringsPools and Spa,<br />
however, is bringing some welcome news<br />
for people wanting to chill out and enjoy<br />
getting away from home.<br />
The complex will remain open from<br />
rollmade us think about the size and<br />
perhapshaving something abit bigger<br />
thanweoriginally thought,’’ he says.<br />
The predicted school roll for <strong>2022</strong> is<br />
545,but the master plan<br />
accommodates 800pupils.<br />
Detailed design is now the focus for<br />
school leaders as headway is sought on<br />
the project.<br />
‘‘About threequarters of the year<br />
willbespent on (detailed design),’’ Mr<br />
Hartsays.<br />
He said he was hopefulofthe build<br />
getting underway before the end of<br />
the year.<br />
‘‘Whether it is some demolition<br />
taking place becausewehave to<br />
remove some buildingstocreatethe<br />
space,’’MrHart says.<br />
‘‘Hopefully someconstruction will<br />
takeplace by the endofthis year.<br />
‘‘There's lotsoffactors that<br />
determinethat.’’<br />
Catering for Year 113 pupils,<br />
Oxford AreaSchool first openedin<br />
1978, replacingthe 100yearOxford<br />
District High School.<br />
However, mostofthe school's<br />
existing infrastructure dated back to<br />
the site’s previous incarnation.<br />
Mr Hart agreessome of the buildings<br />
are now outofdate.<br />
‘‘They're really old and costour<br />
school alot of money to updatethem,<br />
and to keep them as freshaswecan,’’<br />
Mr Hart says.<br />
10am to 7pm. Vaccine passes are required,<br />
along with scanningin, social distancing<br />
and masks indoors.<br />
However, it may have to close up shop if<br />
case numbers and hospitalisations grow in<br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong>.<br />
At this stage there no bookingsare<br />
required,but check the website as this<br />
may change for certain days.<br />
The inaugural Waimakariri Country<br />
Music Festival, due to be held from<br />
February 11 to 13 at the Rangiora<br />
Showgrounds, is another victim.<br />
The organisers have now turned their<br />
attention to bringing the event to Rangiora<br />
next February.<br />
All TogetherKaiapoi has cancelled its<br />
WaitangiDay FamilyCelebration, but coordinatorLinda<br />
Dunbar says the Kaiapoi<br />
Garden Competitionjudging will go ahead<br />
tomorrow(Friday, <strong>January</strong> 28) as planned.<br />
The Waitangi Day race meeting at<br />
Rangiora, hosted by the Amberley Trotting<br />
Club, has also had the brakes put on its<br />
meeting due to the cost of runninga<br />
meeting with alimit on spectators to help<br />
pay the bills.<br />
<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong>athletes training for<br />
the twoday CoasttoCoast, held annually<br />
in February, will be bitterlydisappointed.<br />
The twoday event hasbeen cancelled<br />
for the first time in 40 years.<br />
Organisers are still hopefulofbeing able<br />
THE SUMMER HEAT<br />
HAS ARRIVED!<br />
During summer there are often regional<br />
fire bans and water restrictions.<br />
Keep an eye on your local council’s website<br />
for any water restrictions.<br />
For fire restrictions go to www.checkitsalright.nz<br />
BE FIRE SMART AND<br />
WATER WISE THIS SUMMER<br />
Hopeful ... Oxford Area School principal<br />
Mike Hart hopes upgrades at the school<br />
could get under way by the end of the year.<br />
to run the one day Kathmandu Coast to<br />
Coast eventand Mountain Run (longest<br />
day, longest day age group,one day three<br />
person teams,and mountain run).<br />
Gone also is aPlanty Affair, an annual<br />
marketheld at the Rangiora<br />
Showgrounds.<br />
The market was earmarked for March 6,<br />
and last year attracted hundreds.<br />
Big Brothers Big Sistersof<strong>North</strong><br />
<strong>Canterbury</strong> and Fun HQ have postponed<br />
The Big Bounce fundraiser.<br />
The fundraiser was scheduled to be held<br />
in Rangiora's Victoria Park, on Thursday,<br />
<strong>January</strong> <strong>27</strong>, but it has now been<br />
rescheduled for Thursday, April 28, during<br />
the second week of the school holidays.<br />
Peoplewho have alreadybought tickets<br />
will have them transferred over to the new<br />
date.<br />
Big Brothers and Sisters programme<br />
manager,Ellie Le Gros, says its<br />
disappointing to have to postpone the<br />
event, ‘‘but obviously we want to followthe<br />
rules and do what is best for the<br />
community’’.<br />
People are able to hang on to their<br />
tickets to use for anew date, or<br />
alternatively receivearefund.<br />
The Rangiora RSA Car and Tractor<br />
Rally on February 6, has also been<br />
cancelled leavingorganisers and<br />
participants disappointed.<br />
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