Money for maintenance

Schools across the Wimmera-mallee will join others across the state in receiving a financial boost to undertake essential maintenance projects.

The State Government is funding projects as part of a $17-million term-three allocation under a planned maintenance program.

The program is designed to ensure schools can undertake essential work to grounds and classrooms, fix roofs and windows, paint, resurface floors and replace windows, as well as external landscaping works such as pathways and lighting.

Essential maintenance works are based on up-to-date information on school conditions to create a faster and more targeted investment allocation.

More than $2.8-million is earmarked for maintenance of ‘Shelter-in-place’ buildings, to provide temporary shelter for staff and students during bushfire emergencies until emergency services arrive, or as a shelter of last resort, at 22 schools. This investment is in addition to more than $22-million in State Government allocations under the program in terms one and two. Funding recipients – Yarriambiack Shire: Minyip Primary School $40,000; Murtoa College $505,000; Warracknabeal Primary School $235,000. Ararat: Buangor Primary School $30,000. West Wimmera Shire: Goroke P-12 College $60,000; Kaniva College $185,000. Northern Grampians Shire: Stawell Primary School $35,000; Stawell Secondary College $5000. Hindmarsh Shire: Dimboola Memorial Secondary College $415,000. Buloke: Charlton College $70,000.

In the past seven years, the State Government has invested more than $10.9-billion in building new schools and more than 1700 school upgrades.