"The education crisis is getting worse and there is little relief in sight while the overcrowding spreads across Havelock North and Hastings."
In his last school newsletter for the term, Havelock North Primary School principal Nick Reed said the arrival of the school's promised new classrooms, which were due to be up and running by the start of Term 3, was still up in the air.
"At this stage the Term 3 opening is extremely unlikely as there have been hold ups over the review of the fire rating of the new spaces," he said.
School board of trustees chairman Phil Chandler said the school was working with the ministry to see if this timeline could be brought forward, and he hoped to have more information at the beginning of the second term.
To date two classes were using the school hall for lessons this year, he said.
Ministry of Education head of education infrastructure services Kim Shannon said the Ministry had been working closely with the school and that the delays were due to fire safety requirements and design changes requested by the school.
Although initially due to be in place in July, this had now extended to October.
"The October delivery timeline is still significantly faster than a traditional design
and build project, and the school has not had to meet additional costs."
She added that the Ministry had maintained close contact with the school and sought to accommodate the school's wishes where possible to ensure the best outcome.
"We have confirmed that the school had sufficient alternate accommodation in place for the duration of the project, and apologised and explained the delays related to the fire safety issue."
Ms Lorck said it was time for action, the first step being to confirm that the education status of the Arataki campground land earmarked for a school would be extended beyond a current deadline of May 7 so that the community could have a say on the site's future.
Last year a community action group formed calling for a new school for Havelock North, with about 200 people now registered on its web page.
Member Malcolm Dixon, also a Hastings district councillor, said school rolls were such that the new classrooms were needed now.
"Primary school rolls grow through the year, if they are having problems now in the first term, what's going to be happening by the end of the year?
"Also, they are talking about 10 new classrooms being needed - doesn't that equate to a new school? And what are the impacts on parking, vehicle traffic and encroachment on already small school grounds?"
He also called for a time extension for the disposal of the Arataki land and for there to be consultation with the community.
Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said that the council was doing all it could to try and ensure Arataki land would continue to be held by the ministry until the Te Mata Mushrooms odour issue was resolved.
"My understanding is that they are looking at options around this."
From his position as a candidate for the National Party's Tukituki electorate he said his preference was that the land was held on to by the ministry for education purposes.
Ms Shannon said the formal disposal process for the Arataki land was due to get underway at the end of this year.