The Ministry of Education is reviewing the development costs of Wanaka's proposed $7 million primary school, which parents hope will open in 2010.
A ministry spokesman said it was hoped the review of the Scurr Heights school would be finished next week.
"The preliminary design has been completed for the planned new school.
''The ministry is completing its review of the cost of the new school and expects to provide ministers with advice next week," the spokesman said.
Wanaka Primary School board of trustees chairman Pete Bullen said yesterday he believed the ministry was balking at what appeared to be excessive site development costs for the 6.5ha site.
Site development costs are separate to building construction costs and relate to things like playing fields, landscaping and car parks.
Mr Bullen said he believed other primary schools were on about 3ha.
He believed high site development costs had encouraged ministry officials to look at other options for the school.
This was frustrating because the community had thoroughly investigated all options and the school board had "ticked all the boxes".
The plan was to share the site with neighbouring Mt Aspiring College and a proposed early childhood education centre.
It would not be all for the primary school.
Mr Bullen said it did not seem right that other options were under scrutiny without input from the two schools' boards of trustees and others who had been on various ministry working parties.
Meanwhile, the board had hoped to learn at least a week ago whether the Cabinet had approved the final plans for the school.
The board is anxious to start construction so it can open at the beginning of term one 2010, and members were asking why the proposal had not been signed off at Cabinet level, Mr Bullen said.
In the meantime, the board is faced with several expensive improvements at the present primary school in Tenby St, to cope with roll growth and special needs.
