Transportation and Works
Education and Early Childhood Development
January 11, 2016
Building Safe and Modern Learning Communities
Tender Call Extended for Virginia Park Elementary School Project
The tender call for the Virginia Park Elementary School project in St. John's will be extended to March 31, 2016. The tender was scheduled to close January 12. The extension is necessary to conduct further environmental sampling, which will be done in accordance with requirements of the Department of Environment and Conservation and helps ensure a safe and healthy environment for the school community.
"The environmental sampling will be carried out on the site over the coming weeks ensuring the necessary work is completed with the priority being a safe and healthy environment for the school community. The extension to the tender does not impact the construction schedule and we do not anticipate that the additional sampling will affect the completion date. The sampling is an important further step in the school project and is the right thing to do for certainty of a healthy school community."
- The Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Transportation and Works
The determination to conduct further sampling follows an ongoing thorough review of a draft report by the project's environmental consultant Pinchin LeBlanc and discussions and due diligence with the departments of Education and Early Childhood Development, and Environment and Conservation. Further sampling is necessary to ensure all environmental requirements are met.
“We appreciate the frustration parents have felt over the past number of years and may feel now about the tender being extended for three months. We are focused on moving this project forward and working collaboratively with the school community, while ensuring all environmental issues and regulations have been addressed and met.”
- The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
The draft report by Pinchin LeBlanc regarding site remediation and cleanup is available online at www.tw.gov.nl.ca/publications/VPschool_ContaminatedSoilRemovalRpt.pdf
QUICK FACTS
- The tender call for the Virginia Park Elementary School project in St. John's will be extended to March 31, 2016.
- The tender was scheduled to close January 12. The extension is necessary to conduct further environmental sampling in accordance with requirements of the Department of Environment and Conservation and helps ensure a safe and healthy environment for the school community.
- The draft report by Pinchin LeBlanc regarding site remediation and cleanup is available online at www.tw.gov.nl.ca/publications/VPschool_ContaminatedSoilRemovalRpt.pdf
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Media contacts:
| Jacquelyn Howard Director of Communications Department of Transportation and Works 709-729-3015, 689-2624 jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca |
Blair Medd Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 631-8465 blairmedd@gov.nl.ca |
2016 01 11 12:20 p.m.