AFTER decades of lobbying, the long-awaited Horsham College redevelopment is nearing completion.
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From this week, all students at the college have moved into new classrooms on the school’s Baillie Street campus.
The college received $10 million from the state government in March 2014 to replace its aging buildings.
The school had missed out on funding allocations in the previous three state budgets, despite extensive community lobbying and support.
Principal Rob Pyers said there was now light at the end of the tunnel for the long-running project.
“All our new buildings are now complete,” he said.
“There is still a lot of landscaping work to do, but the buildings came in on time and on budget.
“All students from year 7 to 11 are now over at the Baillie Street campus.”
Mr Pyers said alternative programs would now move into the double-storey building on the school’s senior site, including a new program with Warracknabeal-based disability service Woodbine.
“Those programs should move in by the end of the year,” he said.
Prior to the redevelopment, the college had dilapidated buildings, with some dating back to the 1950s.
The state government funding allowed the college to replace many of its existing classrooms in the junior and middle schools.
Mr Pyers said it was rewarding to see the students and staff enjoying the upgrades.
“They are now in classrooms they deserve to be in and experiencing what 21st Century education should be like,” he said.
“For what we’ve been able to achieve with the money available is fantastic and the feedback we’ve received so far has been very positive,” he said.
Mr Pyers said the school would now assess the existing buildings on the senior site.
“We will work out what buildings will be kept and what will be demolished,” he said.
“We hope any demolition work will take place in the January school holidays or at Easter.”
Mr Pyers said there would be an official opening of the new buildings in March.
He said the building works was mostly completed by Wimmera tradesmen.
“It’s been a real significant investment in the Horsham community,” he said.
“There was a Ballarat parent company, but about 70 or 75 per cent of it was built by Wimmera contractors.”
Year 9 student Otto Maroske said it was great to be using the new classrooms.
“They are much better then what we had – more modern,” he said.
