Colleges' masterplan revealed

Master plans have been revealed for Marlborough’s new combined colleges for the first time.

After years of planning, blueprints for the new-look colleges have been made public as progress gathers pace.

Staff and teachers across all Blenheim’s secondary schools and intermediate school were shown the plans for the first time yesterday evening.

Principals at Marlborough Boys’ and Marlborough Girls’ Colleges and Bohally Intermediate welcomed the master plans for Te Tātoru o Wairau.

“Bohally Intermediate School Nicky Cameron-Dunn says it is great to be able to share the plans with the community.

"I am very glad that we are able to share the master plan with our community and am looking forward to starting our build.

“We are very fortunate to be getting new facilities for our Year 7 and 8 students, especially dedicated space for Te Reo, Art, Science and Music, alongside a hall that will feature a full-sized basketball court".

Marlborough Boys’ College principal John Kendal is praising the plans, saying the community can be reassured the project is coming to fruition.

“I am delighted [with the plans]. It’s hugely exciting, a lot of work with the greater community, iwi and the Ministry have all come together.:

John says one of the great strengths of the plan is its flexibility.

“This is a chance to pilot a 21^st century learning environment. This is something that the community have waited a long time for and it’s great to think that students currently going through the Primary and Intermediate system will one day benefit from this.”

Centred along Fulton Street, the new-look campus will feature sports fields on both the northern and southern boundaries.

Almost all the buildings will be two story to help future proof against a growing population.

Marlborough Girls’ College Principal Mary-Jeanne Lynch says the plans mark a key milestone in the project.

“This collaborative project is all about transforming education in Blenheim to ensure that all students have the opportunities to succeed now and in their futures.

“We are delighted that the masterplan recognises and supports teaching and learning that builds a sense of place and belonging at school, and provides the facilities for students to develop capabilities for success.

“While it has taken some time to reach this milestone, we are incredibly proud of collaboration and stong connections built between the three schools, the Ministry of Education and local iwi.”

Ministry of Education’s Hautū (Leader) – Te Mahau, Nancy Bell says work on the blueprints for the complex project has been ongoing for more than a year.

“Te Tātoru o Wairau is one of the most complex construction projects the Ministry has led.”

The new facilities are geared towards the long-term educational needs for Year 7 to 13 students in Blenheim.

Construction will take place in phases over a six-year period to help minimise disruption to staff and students.

The first phase will begin later this year with Marlborough District Council’s construction of an artificial hockey turf at the site of the co-located colleges.

This will make way for construction of the new intermediate school campus at College Park.

The intermediate school will move to a new campus at College Park to make way for the colleges to co-locate on the existing Marlborough Girls’ College and Bohally properties on Blenheim’s McLauchlan Street.

An Ako Kaiaka/Specialised Learning block in the centre of the campus will serve both colleges, overlooking a communal courtyard. This will house Technology, Science, Visual Arts and a shared Pātaka Kōrero – Library.

Sports facilities will include a gymnasium that can accommodate three main courts and can be opened into a large, combined space, together with the new artificial turf.

“The need to ensure that teaching and learning can continue as normal throughout construction has been a key driver for the staging process,” Nancy says.

Some existing Bohally buildings, such as the school’s hall, have been repurposed on the colleges’ master plan. The Marlborough Technology Centre will remain at its current location.

The colleges have already been working closely together to align common systems such as timetables and student management systems and are planning how they will teach side-by-side on the new campus.

The Ministry of Education’s Project Director for Te Tātoru o Wairau, Simon Trotter says the local construction industry had to be considered.

“This approach to phasing has also considered the capacity of the local construction industry and will enable greater use of local suppliers and contractors throughout the programme.”

The designs of the master plans reflect the cultural narrative Ngā Kōrero Tuku Iho, which was gifted to Te Tātoru o Wairau last year by local iwi Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Kuia and Rangitāne o Wairau.