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

Parliamentary Secretary for Schools Tim Richardson and the Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today visited Ballarat High School – which will receive just over $855,000 – to announce $3.6 million in maintenance funding would be allocated to 31 state schools in Ballarat. These schools include:

• Ballarat Specialist School: $338,000
• Yuille Park P-8 Community College: $315,000
• Phoenix P-12 Community College: $262,000

The funding will ensure existing buildings at Victoria’s 1,500 state schools are safe, modern and properly maintained, and builds on the Labor Government’s historic $5.6 billion investment in new and upgraded schools.

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 enable 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 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.

Quote attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino

“Every single one of Victoria’s more than 1,500 state schools will benefit from this investment.

Quote attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Schools Tim Richardson

“We are not only building new schools, but we’re looking after the existing school buildings across Victoria.”

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“This is the single biggest investment in school maintenance in Victoria. It will future proof our schools.”

Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

“This funding will help Ballarat schools undertake essential maintenance – from new carpets to new roofing.”