Kardinia International College in Geelong seeking approval from state government to construct an all-weather sporting facility
Private schools in the Geelong region are pushing ahead with plans for a range of multimillion-dollar projects, forming an overall investment north of $25 million.
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Kardinia International College is the latest private school in Geelong to lodge plans for a major upgrade of their facilities, with an application currently before the state government detailing a $3.7m proposal.
The upgrade of the college’s main campus in Bell Post Hill is one of several projects planned by private schools in the region, with a combined investment value in excess of $25m.
Headlining the list is a $15m arts and technology centre at St Joseph’s Newtown campus – the college’s biggest single investment in its almost 90-year history.
The proposed work at Kardinia, which has annual fees of more than $15,000 for its VCE students, is centred around sporting infrastructure and would involve the removal of two of the six existing sports courts.
Two new courts would be constructed in their place and be orientated in an east-west direction, rather than north-south as they are currently.
An expansive “canopy structure” would allow the use of the courts during all weather conditions.
The four courts to the south of the development area will not be impacted by the works.
“The proposal is of a contemporary design that will be well suited the surrounding context, respecting the amenity of the surrounding residential area whilst ensuring not to replicate the heritage form on site,” the planning documents state.
No “critical concerns” of the project were identified during a pre-application meeting with the City of Greater Geelong.
The Kardinia plans coincide with fellow private school Geelong College seeking approval from City Hall to proceed with similar works at its senior campus in Newtown.
The proposal relates to the reconstruction of existing sports courts at 27 Mercer Pde.
Key to the project is the flattening of land at the site so the courts are all be on the same level, removing the 1.7m drop to one court that currently exists.
“To achieve the single flat surface required, a combination of site cut and fill is proposed and will be supported by various retaining walls across the site,” the application states.
Other private school projects in Geelong:
St Joseph’s College
Plans to build a $15m arts and technology centre at its Newtown campus are currently under review by the state government.
If approved, work would involve the partial demolition of the existing Tom Howe Centre and part of the school’s existing administration building to develop purpose-built arts and studio spaces.
Principal Tony Paatsch said it will be the most significant investment made by the college.
“We have developed a master plan that looks to upgrade all our facilities, and it’s time for our arts precinct to be brought up to the same sort of standard that most of our other facilities are,” he said.
Sacred Heart College
Recently had its plans for a sport and wellness precinct approved by the state government.
The precinct forms stage five of the college’s long-term masterplan and construction is expected to commence in 2025.
The project will double the indoor courts to provide sufficient space and seating for a growing student population – total seating will accommodate 2000 people
Principal Anna Negro said the masterplan “ensured that Sacred Heart College continues to be a growing community that thrives on a culture which embodies our Mercy values”.
Geelong Baptist College
Has applied to build an additional four indoor basketball courts at its Lovely Banks campus at an estimated $800,000.
The development would be an extension of an existing facility and could help tackle a crippling shortage of facilities for the sport locally.
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Originally published as Kardinia International College in Geelong seeking approval from state government to construct an all-weather sporting facility
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