School Maintenance Backlog Wiped To Zero

Parliamentary Secretary for Education Gareth Ward MP, Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock MP have today welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement which for the first time in our State’s history will see the school maintenance backlog wiped to zero ensuring students including those across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven enjoy the best possible learning environments.

Mr Ward said that the NSW Government will clear every maintenance job currently outstanding at our State’s 2,200 public schools.

“We inherited a $1 billion school maintenance backlog from the former Labor government and will now be reducing that number to zero,” he said.

“It is only because of the strong economic management of the NSW Government that we are in a position to keep our schools in their best possible condition, and fix the problems created by Labor.

“When Labor was last in Government, they closed schools, sacked teachers and racked up a huge maintenance liability as our schools fell into disrepair.

“We have worked hard to reduce the maintenance backlog and I am delighted that the NSW Government will now clear it completely,” Mr Ward said.

Mrs Hancock said that under today’s announcement, the NSW Government will invest a further $449 million to clear the backlog by July 2020, bringing the total investment to nearly $1.3 billion.

“This funding will allow schools to accelerate important work such as carpeting, roof maintenance and painting,” she said.

“We are making the largest investment into public school infrastructure by any State Government in Australian history. This investment shows our commitment to maintaining existing schools.

“We are delivering more than 170 new and upgraded schools across the State, including 40 local schools right here in our region. We will ensure that each school provides the world-class facilities that our students and teachers deserve,” Mrs Hancock said. 

Kiama Electorate schools to benefit from additional maintenance works:

South Coast Electorate schools to benefit from additional maintenance works: