Monday, 2 September 2019

Eastern Victoria schools will get a share of $515 million, in the single largest, statewide boost to school maintenance ever undertaken, thanks to an unprecedented investment by the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing said this funding will support schools across the electorate to ensure every student can attend a great local government primary, secondary or specialist school by tackling maintenance issues proactively.

In the Latrobe Valley, 24 schools will benefit from $2,181,273.00 and in West Gippsland, 37 schools will share in $3,064,733.00. See table at end of release.

The investment will more than double funding for maintenance at Victoria’s state schools over the next two financial years, with more than $300 million to be invested in 2019/20 and $290 million in 2020/21.

It will enables schools to do essential works such as painting, replacing carpet and windows, landscaping, tree inspections and maintenance of infrastructure like septic systems and water services.

This increased investment will enable principals to get on with the job of leading Victoria’s schools, by providing more funds to maintain the state’s 36,000 school buildings, while supporting schools to cater to the 115,000 additional students who are expected to enter the education system over the next five years.

The package complements the Labor Government’s recent initiatives to support schools to manage and maintain their facilities, including the Rolling Facilities Evaluation and the rollout of maintenance plans for each school.

The Labor Government is investing $170.5 million in emergency and incident response over five years, including an extra $57.8 million to address issues such as septic system failure, termite damage, mould, roof and floor damage, and $76.4 million to respond to unforeseen incidents and events such as storms, fire or flooding.

Schools in some of the state’s highest-risk bushfire areas will also have access to more funds to ensure they are ‘bushfire ready’, thanks to $44.2 million over five years for fire preparedness activities like vegetation removal.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing

“We know students get the most out of their education when they have safe, modern classrooms to learn in, and first-rate facilities the school community can feel proud of.”

“The Victorian Government is investing $515 million in our state schools to ensure Gippsland students can attend a great local school and get a great education.”