DUTY MLC for Upper Hunter Mick Veitch believes the number of schools in disrepair in the electorate is “unacceptable”.
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The maintenance backlog in the region has amassed $8.8m, compared to the average NSW electorate, which is $7.8m.
Five local schools – King Street Public School ($786,780), Singleton Public School ($569,674), Muswellbrook Public School ($550,510), Quirindi High School ($533,239) and Scone High School ($502,121) – have needs of more than half a million dollars each.
They are joined by Singleton Heights Public School ($467,408), Merriwa Central School ($463,191), Muswellbrook High School ($460,413), Scone Public School ($435,824) and Quirindi Public School ($418,314) in the Upper Hunter’s top 10.
Others to stand out on the list include Merriwa Central School ($463,191), Singleton High School ($298,733), Denman Public School ($202,723), Muswellbrook South Public School ($159,215), Jerrys Plains Public School ($141,078), Aberdeen Public School ($131,100), Murrurundi Public School ($117,097) and Sandy Hollow Public School ($114,795).
The Department of Education documents, obtained under freedom of information, reveal the individual maintenance backlogs for 2173 government schools across the state as at June 30, 2015.
A wide range of works are needed including toilet and sewer upgrades, carpet replacement, painting, fixing damaged rooves, installing guttering, replacing windows and other general repairs.
Mr Veitch said the alarming figures came on top of recent reports highlighting the NSW Government’s failure to cope with building new and upgraded schools to meet population growth.
“Schools in the electorate of Upper Hunter need an urgent cash injection,” he said.
“The maintenance backlog is spiralling out of control under Baird’s Liberal-National Government.
“Schools are being neglected while the government brawls with itself over how to spend billions on sporting stadiums in Sydney.
“Overcrowded schools, playgrounds filled with demountables and classrooms in disrepair are simply not good enough.
“These repairs aren’t luxury items.
“It’s for basic things like heaters and fans that are broken, leaking taps, peeling paint and badly worn carpet.
“Teachers and students need well-maintained facilities to create the best learning environments.
“Local parents will be quite shocked to learn the extent of the repairs needed to the school their children attend.”