Autumn 2014
HAPPENINGS
FORESHORE REDEVELOPMENT
New spaces on the horizon
When Discovery College opened in 2008, it was already known that there would be very little provision for outdoor sports areas. Though the College has an indoor gymnasium, swimming pool, and a limited outdoor area with half-sized basketball court, the space is not sufficient to support the needs of the student body, which is now more than 1300 students. The indoor facilities are also not suitable for games such as rugby or football. Since its opening, Discovery College has been using the foreshore and Siena Park areas during the school day for general play, structured PE lessons and sports programmes when possible. The College is aware of the impact that this has on members of the community wishing to use these public areas. As such, the College has worked closely with Hong Kong Resorts International, the COC and sports and leisure committee of Discovery Bay in the last two years to develop the foreshore into a more useable space. Through our discussions, it has been agreed that Discovery College will renovate the foreshore area in front of the College and Siena Club tennis courts. The plan comprises a College and community multi-purpose sports area with an artificial turf surface that is suitable and safe for many ball sports and general play. In addition to the increase in sports play, we also expect that the renovated space will offer increased safety for children and community members due to the planned level turfing. The turfing will provide greater availability of sports facilities for the community including pitches, and the turfing used will be suitable for several sports, including rugby, football/soccer, and Aussie Rules.
14
FORESHORE REDEVELOPMENT
We expect that the renovated foreshore will enhance the community environment in which these sports, and others, can be played by Discovery College students and community, and be enjoyed by parents and friends. The space should see increased accessibility for DC students for play, PE lessons and before and after school activities. Likewise, we expect use to be enhanced for Discovery Bay sports teams, other schools and pre-school centres, and all individual residents. The construction phase will commence in December 2014 and has an expected completion target of May 2015. Pat Romano Business Manager