by Luke Voogt
Geelong schools will receive $6 million of additional maintenance funding with Northern Bay College taking the largest share of $795,000, State Government has announced.
College principal Scott Dellar said the funding would “fast-track” work such as improving walkways, heating and cooling, fixing leaks and installing new carpets.
“It’s amazing. We’ll certainly be able to do a lot with that.”
The college would funnel the majority of the funding into its Goldsworthy year 9 to 12 campus at Corio, Mr Dellar said.
“The Goldsworthy campus is probably our oldest.”
Once complete, the maintenance work would make students feel more welcome and encourage them to take more pride in their school, Mr Dellar said.
“They’ll walk around thinking, ‘this is us – this is who we are’.”
He welcomed maintenance funding for schools in areas of lower socioeconomic status.
“The department and the government really look at point of need and that allows us to come up with a fair way of funding going forward,” he said.
Newcomb and Bellarine secondary colleges were greater Geelong’s next biggest winners from the announcement, receiving $312,000 and $261,000 respectively.
Schools in local MP Christine Couzens’ state electorate of Geelong would receive $1.9 million in total, she said.
“This funding will help Geelong schools to undertake essential maintenance – from a new lick of paint, to replacing carpets and landscaping work – so that students, teachers and parents alike can take pride in our schools.”
Education Minister James Merlino on Monday announced $6 million for 53 public schools across greater Geelong, as part of a state-wide $515 million “maintenance blitz”.
“Every single one of Victoria’s more than 1500 state schools will benefit from this investment,” he said.
The investment would more than double funding for maintenance at Victoria’s public schools over the next two financial years, Mr Merlino said.
The grants would fund essential works like painting, replacing carpet and windows, landscaping, tree inspections and maintenance of infrastructure like septic systems and water services, he said.
Mr Merlino said the increased investment would help maintain Victoria’s 36,000 school buildings and cater for an expected additional 115,000 students entering the education system over the next five years.
Schools in the seat of Geelong receiving extra funding:
Belmont Primary School – $49,453
Geelong East Primary School – $74,705
Ashby Primary School – $49,738
Newtown Primary School – $51,580
Chilwell Primary School – $47,414
Geelong South Primary School – $43,190
Manifold Heights Primary School – $69,646
Tate Street Primary School Geelong – $53,580
Roslyn Primary School – $45,300
Oberon Primary School – $48,083
Fyans Park Primary School – $70,046
Oberon South Primary School – $40,253
Whittington Primary School – $71,122
Barwon Valley School – $207,513
Newcomb Park Primary School – $49,438
Belmont High School – $237,174
Geelong High School – $163,387
Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College – $127,048
Newcomb Secondary College – $312,040
Oberon High School – $162,035
