Rockhampton and Yeppoon private and state school construction projects 2021

Millions of dollars worth of projects are underway or about to begin at Rockhampton and Yeppoon private and state schools. See if your school made the list.

Multiple projects are underway at Rockhampton and Yeppoon schools, with multi-million dollar plans for new buildings, the refurbishment of boarding dorms, extensions, new shade structures, a Health Hub, STEM facility and more.

Some of the projects are required to be completed during school holidays.

The Department of Education has invested $26m in state school facilities in Rockhampton for the 2021-2022 financial year across four projects in town which will support an estimated 48 local jobs.

State schools finish for the year on December 10 while Rockhampton Grammar School, St Brendan’s College, Rockhampton Girls Grammar School, St Ursula’s College and Kingsley College break up on November 26 and Emmaus College and The Cathedral College finish on December 3.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS WORKS

Kingsley College, Rockhampton – masterplan

New plans were proposed this month to Rockhampton Regional Council for nine new state-of-the-art classrooms, recreational buildings, sporting ovals and parking facilities at Central Queensland Christian College (Kingsley College) on Reaney Street, Berserker.

The school was founded in 1993 and caters for students from prep to secondary face-to-face schooling and distance education.

The new development would be delivered over six stages with stage one to include four classrooms, an outdoor learning space, amenities area, balconies and car park.

Future stages include five classrooms, a library, a staff building, an administration building, flexible learning area and music room, to be delivered per the schools’ needs and available funding.

As the school is located within the flood hazard overlay, all proposed buildings are on concrete 2.4m high pylons.

Once fully developed, the campus will have a capacity of 32 full-time and 20 part-time staff members and 323 students.

The application is being assessed by council.

Rockhampton Grammar School Early Learning Centre – Stage 3 

Tenders closed on November 17 for stage three of the private school’s childcare centre.

Works include the construction of a new two-storey early learning centre building, a music storage shed and civil works including 19 additional car parks, driveways, external retaining structures, earthworks, batters, associated services installations, and landscaping works.

The floor plan for the building includes two rooms on the lower level at each side with a kitchen, art prep area, storeroom, nappy change area and toilets in the middle, with verandas, outdoor store and staff bathroom.

Upstairs there is a staffroom, kitchenette and bathroom facilities

The new building caters for 44 more students split between the two rooms and six more staff.

It is hoped the new space will be in use by April 2022.

Rockhampton Grammar School – Girls dormitory refurbishment 

Works have begun at RGS for a refurbishment of the girls dormitory with local company Griffin Builders carrying out the construction.

Prototype installations have been completed and are currently going through a trial period.

Over the Christmas holidays upgrades will be made to the student amenities and staff accommodation, and a new entry foyer and stairs will be constructed.

Work will include the demolition and replacement of 96 beds, student showers, toilets, basin areas, laundries and staff toilets.

Stage three of the works are scheduled to begin in April 2022 and the entire dormitory will be vacated for two weeks.

The project is to be completed in term two.

The Cathedral College, Rockhampton – Mercy Centre and gym extensions, new covered areas, new amenities and external works

The Mercy Centre and Gym at the school will be extended and improved for health and PE classes, inter-school sports, cultural and college events and Rockhampton community events.

Tenders close on December 8 for the $3.5m works which include new timber flooring and entry at the Mercy Centre, extension at the gym, and new female and male toilets block with four toilets each.

A new under-covered area for middle school students will also be built.

Other associated works include sub mains, lighting and power installations, ceiling fans, communications and AV systems cabling, security system and PA system extensions and air conditioner installations.

Demolition works include walls, concrete, trees, gardens and kerbs, an existing toilet block, office to the end of the O’Brien building, the dismantle and relocation of drink fountains, shade sails, bicycle racks, seating, wall speakers, projectors, school plaques and cross.

Asbestos removal work is required to occur over a weekend or school holidays.

The catholic co-education boarding college has 1,340 students enrolled.

St Ursula’s College, Yeppoon – New I Block

Plans were submitted to Livingstone Shire Council this month for an expansion at the girls school with a new education block, amenities, courtyard, covered area and landscaping.

The new two-storey educational building would provide a centre for the senior grades.

The new building would replace an existing building that will be demolished.

St Brendan’s College, Yeppoon – STEM Facility and Lebretton refurbishment

Paynters was awarded the tender in late June for the construction of a new $6.2m Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Hub which includes new science rooms, wet laboratories, breakout areas, exhibition hall and conversion of existing spaces into more modern facilities.

The STEM Facility works were funded by $3.7 million from the Australian Government.

The former science labs, the Lebretton building, are being refurbished to a general learning area.

The school is expecting to occupy the new spaces early next year.

STATE SCHOOL WORKS

Parkhurst State School – Learning Loft 

Works began in September 2020 for a $8.5 million Learning Loft and the finished work was revealed this week.

The new two-storey, state-of-the-art facility has six classrooms, a staff collaboration space and an outdoor arts and science learning space, and on the ground floor, a music centre, multi-purpose learning space for science, technology, arts, mathematics and environment.

As Parkhurst has a growing population, the new building has room for four classrooms for future growth.

The construction support 26 local jobs.

North Rockhampton State High School – Health Hub

Tenders closed on November 25 for the construction of a new $440,000 health hub, as part of the health hub program.

The existing D block will be refurbished to create practical and theory spaces for the new health hub, including new walls, windows, doors, ceilings, finishes, operable wall and services.

Construction is expected to commence in mid January 2022 and is forecast for completion in late March 2022.

Glenmore State School – Refurbishment of covered area

Tenders closed on November 23 for the design and construction of a $275,000 replacement roof to the covered games area and a new covered walkway, as part of the School Infrastructure Enhancement program.

Works include removal of the existing roof to the covered games area and replacing with a new insulated roof, fixed to new purlins and construction of a small covered walkway.

Construction is expected to commence in mid January 2022 and is forecast for completion in mid-2022.

Gracemere State School – Shade structure

Tenders closed on November 19 for the design and construction of a new $324, 500 shade structure over an existing multi-purpose course, as part of the School Infrastructure Enhancement program.

Construction is expected to commence in late January 2022 and is forecast for completion in late April 2022.

Yeppoon State High School – New Learning Centre

Construction of a new $10.5 million two-storey learning building began at Yeppoon State High School in August.

The new Hospitality and Applied Technology Centre includes general learning spaces, workshops, staff services, student services, kitchenette, storerooms and amenities.

The existing D block will be refurbished into new workshop areas with breakout spaces, STEM laboratory and material store.

The project is due for completion in May 2022 and is estimated to have supported 29 local jobs.

Rockhampton North Special School – New building

A new $17.4 million two-storey learning building is to be built at Rockhampton North Special School.

The new building will include 10 learning spaces with associated collaborative spaces, breakout spaces and a multi-purpose space.

The project will also refurbish the existing B block to provide an additional two learning spaces.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2022 and is due for completion in April 2023.