Several schools in Victoria’s south-west will receive a funding boost to undertake works as part of another maintenance blitz – making them safer, modern and more resilient in the face of bushfires.
Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney welcomed the announcement last week and said the blitz – which includes repairing day to day wear and tear, external surface repainting and addressing roof issues – will soon get underway, as part of the Term 4 Planned Maintenance Program.
The program will see 76 schools across the state share in $8.875 million in funding for the works to take place, with 4 of the schools in the south-west region:
- Heywood Consolidated School – $515,000 for maintenance works on the school’s Shelter in Place building
- Brauer Secondary College – $100,000 for high priority works on the school’s Shelter in Place building
- Portland Primary School – $25,000 for maintenance works
- Cudgee Primary School – $25,000 for maintenance tasks
It also includes $6.020 million for Shelter In Place (SIP) bushfire facilities for 23 schools.
A SIP is a school’s nominated building, which serves as a temporary shelter for staff and students during a bushfire or until emergency services arrive, or as a shelter of last resort if there is insufficient time to evacuate.
The blitz will ensure all the schools are safe, modern and properly upheld in the face of bushfires and ahead of the warmer weather.
It comes in addition to the $11.24 million of funding allocated for more than 100 schools as part of the Term 3 Planned Maintenance Program – which focussed on works to grounds and classrooms, replacing floors and external landscaping works to pathways and lighting.
In the past eight years, the Andrews Labor Government has invested $12.8 billion in building new schools and more than 1,850 school upgrades, creating around 17,400 jobs in construction and associated industries.
The Labor Government is now ahead of schedule in opening 100 new schools by 2026, with 75 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024 – ensuring every student can access a great local school and a quality education no matter where they live.
Quotes attributable to Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“This program will make sure that our students and teachers have access to the safe and modern learning environments they deserve.”
“From repairing day to day wear and tear to external surface repainting and addressing roof issues – this program will ensure our schools in the south west are well maintained, safe and modern – as well as properly upheld in the face of bushfires and ahead of the warmer weather.”
”I’m so pleased that we are significantly upgrading shelter in place facilities at Heywood Consolidated School and Brauer Secondary College, making them more resilient in the face of bushfires.”