$1 million boost for schools in Whitehorse

The Napthine Government is investing more than $1 million on maintenance for five schools in Whitehorse, four eastern metropolitan State Members announced today.

Blackburn Lake Primary School will receive $31,556 to refurbish the school’s art room, Burwood East Special Developmental School will receive $101,488 to refurbish the school’s Block A building, Forest Hill College will receive $582,439 to refurbish the school’s Block D, L, B and K buildings, Mullauna Secondary College will receive $175,784 to refurbish the school’s Block D building and Wattle Park Primary School will receive $110,424 for repairs to the school’s Block A building.

This significant funding boost is part of a broader $23 million investment in school maintenance across Victoria and will go towards upgrading school buildings.

Member for Mitcham and Liberal candidate for Ringwood Dee Ryall said it was fantastic to see further funding for Mullauna Secondary College.

“It is only through strong financial management that we able to provide additional maintenance funding of almost $176,000 to refurbish Mullauna College’s Block D,” Ms Ryall said.

“This is on top of almost $1.3 million in this budget toward the new Junior school.”

Member for Forest Hill Neil Angus congratulated Burwood East Special Developmental School and Forest Hill College on their funding.

“This is great news for two of my local Whitehorse schools that had been neglected under the previous Labor Government,” Mr Angus said.

“For Forest Hill College, these funds are in addition to the $2.1 million the school received in the 2014-15 State Budget.”

Member for Burwood Graham Watt said it was wonderful that Wattle Park Primary School will now be able to conduct repairs to its Block A building.

“Wattle Park Primary School will use the funding to repair the school’s Block A building, adding to the new facilities recently completed at the school,” Mr Watt said.

“This compliments the Victorian Coalition Government’s previous and ongoing investments in our local schools.”

Member for Box Hill Robert Clark said he was very pleased that Blackburn Lake Primary School has received funding.

“Blackburn Lake Primary School is a wonderful school that caters for many families in the Blackburn area and beyond,” Mr Clark said.

“It is great that the school will be able to refurbish its art room, which will benefit students for many years to come.”

Minister for Education Martin Dixon said the Napthine Government has stepped in and is making up for 11 years of Labor neglect.

“Daniel Andrews and Labor cannot hide from the truth – Labor cut school maintenance funding by 20 per cent when it was last in government,” Mr Dixon said.

“And once again, Labor proved to be incapable of basic maths when the Building the Education Revolution program was underfunded by $70 million.

“What is also disappointing for Victorian schools is that Labor had promised capital works projects for around 200 schools, but broke that promise by never delivering any of them.

Mr Dixon said since 2011, the Napthine Government has delivered a $1.1 billion investment in school infrastructure, including 23 new schools and upgrades to hundreds of existing schools.

“This is in addition to the $51.5 million allocated in 2013, and $71 million allocated in the 2014-15 Victorian State Budget to tackle Labor’s $420 million school maintenance backlog,” Mr Dixon said.

“The Coalition Government has delivered on its election promises, and increased school maintenance funding by over 40 per cent.

“The Coalition Government will be announcing further details of our commitment to education when we release the overarching policy closer to the election.”