38 | Ashburton College Excavation and Earthworks • Bulk earthworks • Hydrovac Excavation • Long Reach Digger • Hiab • Drainage &Water Systems • Mole Plough – Power / Water / Fibre (20mm to 125mm) • Rut Busting River & Flood Protection • Gravel extraction and placement • Stopbank construction, maintenance and ood protection • Environmental and erosion control Plant & Machinery • Modern, well-maintained eet • Experienced operators • Equipment suitable for small to large-scale projects 0800 432 583 0800 GDC LTD PROUD TO BE LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED AND PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY From driveway to a full farm development – no job is too big or too small RURAL, COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL we do it all! Farm & Dairy Services • Dairy Shed Sitework • Stump & Hedge Removal • Mulching • Irrigation Installation • Power Design & Installation • Lime tracks– Dairy Lanes • Underpasses Call one of our experienced team for an obligation free quote or to ask about our many other services Email o ce@gdcgroup.nz Web www.gdc.net.nz SUPREME AWARDWINNER OF ANZ BUSINESS AWARDS 2026 T T Kelly Deeks Next level technical training facilities The Mid Canterbury secondary school has recently completed a significant renovation of its technical block. Ashburton College is positioning itself for the future with a major upgrade of its technical teaching facilities, but school leaders say continued investment is essential to ensure the wider campus keeps pace with a rapidly growing and increasingly diverse student population. The Mid Canterbury secondary school has recently completed a significant renovation of its technical block, transforming outdated spaces into modern, fit-for-purpose learning environments aligned with industry expectations. Business manager Charlie Kelland says the project marks an important step forward for the college, but also highlights the work still to be done. “We are very happy with where the school is heading,” Charlie says. “It is a growing school, and one of the top 10 largest in the South Island, but we cannot sit on our laurels just because we are the main school in the area.” Ashburton College draws students from the Rakaia River to the Rangitata River and inland towards Methven, with around 60% based in urban Ashburton and 40% travelling in from rural areas each day. While there are other providers in the district, Ashburton Christian School and Mt Hutt College, Charlie says the college’s focus remains firmly on delivering for its own community. At the centre of that effort is a commitment to providing pathways for every student, from university and polytechnic study through to trades and local employment. The newly refurbished technical block reflects that approach. Delivered within the existing footprint, the upgrade has introduced a range of modern features, including improved heating and cooling systems, acoustic treatments, and reconfigured teaching spaces. The redevelopment has also enabled the expansion of specialist facilities, including a dedicated automotive workshop that replaces a cramped and outdated shared space. “This is about aligning what we teach with what students will encounter when they leave school,” Charlie says. “We have invested heavily in equipment, such as laser cutters, because that is the kind of technology they will be working with in industry.” Ashburton College has developed strong programmes in agriculture, construction, and automotive studies, alongside academic pathways, with a focus on preparing students for real-world opportunities. Its building programme is already delivering hands-on experience, with students constructing houses as part of their training. While the technical block upgrade has been well received, it has also drawn attention to the condition of other parts of the campus. Several buildings and prefabricated classrooms installed in the 1970s as temporary solutions remain in use today. The contrast between upgraded and original facilities is clear, particularly in areas such as heating and acoustics. “You can walk from a modern, warm, acoustically treated space into a cold, noisy building, and it is a completely different experience,” Charlie says. “If students are sitting in a cold classroom, they are not focused on learning.” The technical upgrade was initially part of a broader campus redevelopment that was scaled back due to funding constraints. Instead, remaining funds were directed into refurbishing existing buildings, an approach Charlie says has delivered strong results, despite limitations. “We are very happy with what we have achieved, and in some ways we may not have got this level of outcome if it had been a full rebuild,” he says. “But it does mean we now need to continue that work across the rest of the school.” At the same time, the college roll continues to grow, increasing from around 1200 students three to four years ago to approximately 1450 today, with further growth expected. That growth reflects both population changes and a shift in the district’s demographic profile. Ashburton College now has a highly multicultural roll, with more than a fifth of students speaking English as a second language, and a large Polynesian cohort, alongside increasing numbers of students from Filipino, Indian, and Ukrainian backgrounds. “It is a very different community to what it was 40 years ago,” Charlie says. “We need to keep evolving to reflect that, and make sure we are delivering the best possible education for every student.” REGIONAL
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