"This really will be something that will blow people's minds," said the Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, while undertaking an inspection tour of the new Armidale Secondary College being built on the old Armidale High School site.
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"We're probably about six to seven months away from final completion of the main work," he said.
"There will still be some work required on the new Den and the on-site Agricultural Smart Farm, but the main learning areas will be completed well ahead of schedule."
"At the end of it we will have the most state-of-the-art, modern high school anywhere in NSW.
Mr Marshall said at $121 million. the college was the largest educational project on this side of the range.
"This project has moved along so quickly. Up until the last few weeks we really haven't had too much rain. So the drought's really caused the project to move along very quickly," he said.
"One of the positive things is that we've tried really hard to keep as much of that $121 million in the local community as possible.
"So, 60 per cent of the workforce, the tradies, the businesses on site are all from the Armidale region. So it's good that we've provided a stimulus at a time when we've really needed it the most."
He described the project as a big economic shot in the arm for the region that would cement Armidale's reputation as an educational leader in the State.
"I think this will held attract many more professionals and lots of new families to our region as well," Mr Marshall said.
"It pays a lot of homage to the history of the old Armidale High School.
"The central building, built in the 1920s, has been preserved and completely restored and will be the new creative and performing arts spaces," Mr Marshall said.
"Even the roof was replaced with a slate style surface to restore that original heritage look.
Mr Marshall said nothing had gone to waste. All the materials from the old building had been used.
"Even the old floorboards from the auditorium are being reused on on some of the staircases."