Coalition pledges $8.8 million for Koonung Secondary College

A re-elected Coalition Government will provide $8.8 million for a major upgrade of Koonung Secondary College, the Member for Box Hill, Robert Clark, announced today.

The election commitment funding will enable Koonung Secondary College to build new science and technology classrooms and to provide a wide range of other new and upgraded facilities.

Mr Clark said he was very pleased to announce the commitment, which will provide the school with modern buildings and facilities to match its highly successful and innovative educational programs.

“Koonung Secondary College has a great record of achievement in its academic results, its performing arts program, its sports program and in many other areas,” Mr Clark said.

“Now the school will be able to provide those outstanding programs with state-of-the-art buildings and facilities.”

Mr Clark said the funding commitment would enable the school’s building works program to continue, following on from the $1.2 million of funding provided for initial works in the May state budget.

The funding commitment comes after the former Labor government failed to provide funds for the upgrade works that were scheduled at the time of the 2010 State election.

“Labor failed to fund more than 200 school upgrades or modernisations that it promised and Labor also cut maintenance funding for schools by 20 per cent between 2000 and 2010,” Mr Clark said.

Mr Clark said according to the Victorian Auditor-General, Labor left the Coalition Government with a $420 million school maintenance backlog.

In contrast, the Coalition Government is providing a record $9.2 billion for school education in 2014-15, $1 billion more than in Labor’s last budget in 2010.

“Only the Liberal-Nationals Coalition is committed to supporting local families and students and providing these much-needed funds,” Mr Clark said.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the school community in a re-elected Napthine Government to deliver this important upgrade for Koonung Secondary College that will benefit students, parents and the broader community.”