Seismic safety to be key subject at college

Months of seismic assessment work at Wairarapa College has revealed an "immediate risk" in its main building, says college board of trustees chairman Geoff Copps.

Trustees and Ministry of Education workers had completed an assessment of buildings at the school over the past several months, Mr Copps said.

"The results of this work have highlighted an immediate risk in the corridor of the main college building, the Sutherland Block," he said.

Contractors would start strengthening work at the start of the new school year, he said, to provide "an interim solution that will ensure that all users of the corridor are as safe as possible".

He said an overarching site plan would next year focus on "several other less critical seismic issues" at the school. "This current piece of work will provide for the safety of the school community while we work with the ministry to develop the long-term property plan to ensure that Wairarapa College has an environment to deliver the 21st century education our community demands," Mr Copps said.

He said the school would work alongside its community to determine the "sort of physical environment" at the college and will hold a meeting to discuss wants and needs. "We will be looking at the entire site, including College House, and recognise that many members of our community have a special attachment to Wairarapa College and so need to have a forum to express their views."