A $19million funding boost designed to ease pressure on Wanaka's expanding school rolls has been welcomed as perfectly timed.
But there could be even more good news to come, as Mt Aspiring College principal Wayne Bosley yesterday confirmed a wider redevelopment of Wanaka's only secondary school was already being discussed.
The Government yesterday unveiled details of the package, which included $16 million for a new primary school in Wanaka, opening in 2019, and $3 million for six new classrooms at Mt Aspiring College.
The new primary school would be built in two stages, with the first stage expected to be completed by 2019 and the second stage by 2020, Education Minister Nikki Kaye said.
Once the second stage was completed, the school could take about 400 pupils.
A third stage could be added in the next 10 years, if required, boosting the capacity to about 800 pupils.
Ms Kaye's announcement was part of the Government's $456.5million pledge to spend more on education infrastructure, as set out in the Budget.
''This is about ensuring we can future-proof for growth in Wanaka and give certainty to the community about education provision for many years to come,'' Ms Kaye said.
There were about 1500 pupils enrolled in the Upper Clutha and the four schools in the area were already feeling the strain of the town's growth spurt.
Earlier this year the Government announced it would spend $1.4million building four classrooms at Wanaka Primary School to help with its expanding roll.
The Ministry of Education was already in the process of securing a site for the new school.
The acting head of the ministry's education infrastructure service, Rob Giller, said negotiations were commercially sensitive and further details could not be disclosed at present.
Community consultation on the new school would begin in coming months but there was no specific start date.
At Mt Aspiring College, Mr Bosley said the funding was great news for the school and the Upper Clutha, but it was just the first step in future-proofing the town's only secondary school. With just over 900 pupils, the college was already at capacity and the six new classrooms would help ease the pressure.
A major redevelopment plan for the school's entire campus - which could hold up to 1200 pupils - is being developed by the school and ministry.
Mr Bosley expected more information about the school's future would be announced in the coming months.
The six new classrooms were a small part of that plan, Mr Bosley said.
''I don't want to sound ungrateful because we are very thankful for the six new classrooms.
''But we want and need more so we can ensure the school and its campus are future-proofed.''
Queenstown Lakes District Council deputy mayor Calum MacLeod, of Wanaka, said the timing of the announcement was almost perfect for the town.
''It's fantastic and the timing could not be better because it is needed right now.''
