A $2.2 million multi-purpose sporting and performing arts hall will be built at Orange Christian School next year following a federal government grant.
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Principal Melissa Brown said it was the culmination of many years planning for the school to receive the $650,000 funding.
The government’s capital grants program provides funding for non-government schools.
It will also provide $250,000 to the Orange MET School toward a new science lab, music room, food technology room, art studio, collaborative learning spaces and a covered outdoor learning area.
Mrs Brown said the Christian School was “getting a great Christmas present” this year.
“We will begin work, we’ll have the plans completed and everything be put in place by 2019, and hopefully be concluded either 2019 or very early 2020,” she said.
The 500-seat hall will have basketball, netball and volleyball courts plus a performance stage for concerts and school events.
“To be able to have a facility that can be used all-weather will be wonderful. We will be able to run sporting events everyday,” she said.
“To be able to know that you can plan a school event and it won’t have to change no matter what the weather is like [is important].
“We also have our facilities open to other community members, and community bodies, to be able to offer that more extensively will be great.
“We’ve been looking at having a hall probably for over 10 years. We started off building the trade skills centre and we designed that so the hall would butt against that.
“And we’ve got a commercial cafe and commercial kitchen that actually runs in the trade skills centre so when everybody comes out of the hall they can have that traditional sausage sizzle and great coffee to be able to celebrate as well.”
Member for Calare Andrew Gee said the two Orange grants were part of 100 from around Australia under the program.
“It’s a $2.2 million project and this grant of $650,000 is going to ensure that now the plans can be lodged and hopefully work can be started next year,” he said.
“There are about 370 children here at the Orange Christian School and it is a growing school and an integral part of the community.
“It is a very dynamic school and is always looking to the future.”
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