Public schools in the Davidson electorate have had their planned maintenance lists cut by over $900,000 as new figures show the benefit of a blitz on roofing, flooring, painting and other maintenance projects.
Overall, the NSW Government has slashed the State’s planned school maintenance list by more than $200 million – or by about a quarter – in the past 18 months.
Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea welcomed the improvement in local school facilities due to the record investment.
“Providing high-quality school facilities is vital to give our children the education they need and deserve. These works ensure the NSW Government is providing those facilities,” Mr O’Dea said.
Local schools that have benefited from this record investment include St Ives, Davidson and Killara High Schools and St Ives, Mimosa, Roseville, Lindfield, Lindfield East and Belrose Public Schools.
The reduction in the liability follows the NSW Government’s record $747 million school maintenance investment over the next four years in last year’s NSW Budget.
Education Minister Rob Stokes welcomed the results of the latest Education Department audit and noted that more progress will be made in the coming months, with another $100 million allocated towards further maintenance in the 2017-18 financial year.
“The NSW Government’s record school maintenance investment is having a real impact in addressing long-term maintenance challenges and we are committed to continuing this process,” Mr Stokes said.
The $747 million investment over four years in planned maintenance has already nearly halved the $1 billion school maintenance liability left behind by Labor.
In addition to the record maintenance spend, the NSW Government is also investing a record $4.2 billion over four years on building more than 120 new and upgraded schools – the biggest investment in public school infrastructure in NSW history.
