$8 million upgrade to Calvary Christian College

WORK on a major $8 million upgrade to sporting facilities at Calvary Christian College and its adjoining church is due to be completed in April.

A team of about 70 local construction workers and contractors have been building the first stage of an indoor multipurpose sports centre eventually expected to include a swim school and gymnasium.

College principal Steve Downes said the facility would have two full-size basketball courts which he said would be accessible to local sports teams for training.

“It’s the very best part of a $3.5 million project of which we have received a third of the money from state and federal funding,” Mr Downes said.

“It is a push to invest in Calvary’s future growth and we expect it will also benefit the whole area.

“It will change the landscape of our school.

“Regardless of whether it is hot, cold, wet or dry, our students will be able to play sports under cover in a state-of-the-art facility.”

Mr Downes said the Prep to Year 12 school and childcare centre, had grown from just under 300 students in 2005 to more than 900.

He said a swimming pool and swim school in stage two of the project was two or three years away but it was part of the big picture.

“We believe that will not only be an asset to the school community but the swim school can also be available for our childcare centre and families in the area,” he said.

“We don’t have a date yet for stage three of the project but it will include adding a gymnasium and more classrooms.”

Mr Downes said work was well under way at the adjoining Calvary church hall which was getting a $4.5 million refurbishment which included a new two-storey section which would include offices, lecture rooms for a college, and fellowship spaces including cafe and restaurant.

Adrian Gabrielli, director of Gabcon Builders, said he was excited to be given the contract for the work and the opportunity to employ local builders.

Mr Gabrielli said the 2000sq m centre was not airconditioned but had been designed with the tropics in mind with industrial ceiling fans and large louvres in the walls.

Reported by Emma Chadwick, Townsville Bulletin February 24, 2017 6:42am

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