DESPITE the COVID-19 pandemic, construction of the new $121 million Armidale Secondary College is ahead of schedule. Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall released the latest aerial photographs of the construction site and said the focus of construction was shifting to the fit-out the new buildings and external works like landscaping and road construction. “Armidale Secondary College will be the premier school anywhere in country NSW, this new school of the future is really taking shape now and it looks amazing," he said. “To date, the majority of the work on-site has been centred around the construction of the new school buildings and refurbishment of the historic original Armidale High School building, constructed in 1922. “With both those stages nearly complete, work has moved inside with electricians and other tradies installing internal wiring and services to individual learning spaces, finishing the floors and ceilings and completing the internal and external window glazing." Mr Marhsall the set-up of information and communication technologies will start, with the school to be equipped with Wi-Fi, smartboards and specialised digital learning spaces where students can plug in their personal electronic devices. “Outside is where people will really be able to see the next lot of work happening, with landscapers moving in to start laying footpaths and putting in walkways which will link the various parts of the school together," he said. “This will then allow for trees to be planted and turf to be laid down between the old and new school buildings, which will create an inviting outside study space for students.”
"Also underway is the surfacing of the new outside basketball courts, replacement of the school perimeter fence and installation of a dog-proof fence around the Ag-farm and construction of internal roads." Mr Marshall said that despite the difficulties of social distancing, head contractor Richard Crookes Constructions, and the many subcontractors on-site, were continuing to deliver the project on schedule, ensuring it is ready to open on day 1, Term 1, 2021. “To manage the potential introduction of COVID-19 onto the worksite RCC has sectioned the area into quadrants which can be individually shut down if required, containing the virus to one area and allowing work to continue elsewhere," he added. “Consideration has also been given to sub-contractors who travel from outside the region to undertake work. “To come back on-site, subbies have to sign a clearance certificate which declares they have not recently come into contact with someone who has recently arrived from overseas or who has coronavirus symptoms.”