Schools fix over $43m: State’s biggest bill by far

BARWON South West schools’ maintenance bill of more than $93 million is double any other education department region in Victoria, according to an Auditor General report.
The report said schools in the region needed an average investment of $725,000.
The funding would bring all of the 129 schools up to “operational standard”, the report said.
The region also had the most unused space following two building programs in recent years.
Barwon South West had an oversupply of school buildings of 55 per cent, the report said.
The surplus school building average across Victoria was 38 per cent based on student enrolments.
School building programs between 2007 and 2012 included a Victorian Schools Plan (VSP) and Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER), spending $4.5 billion in Victorian schools infrastructure.
Barwon South West received $311 million of new school buildings through the two programs.
The Auditor General’s report said excess space had consequently more than doubled across the state.
“The excess space is a mix of teaching and non-teaching space, including corridors and administration space.
“Excess teaching space has increased from around eight per cent prior to VSP and BER to 25 per cent currently.”
The report said the new buildings had added to school’s maintenance costs.
“Keeping school buildings in this condition will require sustained investment in maintenance over the life cycle of these buildings.”
The report said Department of Education and Early Childhood Development was failing to manage school infrastructure efficiently and cost-effectively.
“Historical underfunding of maintenance, a lack of life-cycle planning and a lack of accountability for schools’ expenditure of maintenance funds are compromising the effective management of school buildings.
“DEECD is aware of the need to enhance asset management practices but has not yet taken effective action.”
Education Minister Martin Dixon said State Government would spend $51.5 million at more than 200 schools on urgent maintenance.
The money would be spent on schools with the greatest need as identified by a recent maintenance audit, he said.