Facilities – Creating Space

Chris Scrogie Operations and Facilities Manager

Creating Space

This year has been a very busy and very wet time for the Operations team. Months of endless rain created new creeks and leaks across our campuses, for many months we had two wading pools instead of playing fields.

The challenge of maintaining the exterior of the buildings and the grounds was great, also with a concentrated schedule of events to support, however the team performed admirably, almost like an Olympic

Synchronised Swimming Team.

We have continued our program of air conditioning teaching spaces and staff areas to support education with comfortable environments across all campuses.

New stairs have been installed through the centre of the Middle

Cove Campus and further works are planned for pathways and roads as the weather permits.

Our program of painting and refurbishing areas continues across the School.

Over the last few years the Bushfire regulations in NSW have become significantly stricter and as part of our ongoing maintenance of the grounds we continue to undertake a fire fuel reduction program around our buildings. As part of this we have needed to create a wider open space around the Walter Burly Griffin Building. This has involved the removal of some trees, to open up the canopy, but has also created an opportunity for a new space. As part of this work we were able to partner with Harvest Nursery, who were able to harvest many seeds, seedlings and cuttings of the plants in the area. They were also able to relocate several grass trees that would have been affected by the works. We will explore the exciting options this space presents, to how best utilise this new open space. 