Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson has welcomed the Newman Government’s commitment to provide a further $100 million to revitalise Queensland state schools.
Ms Simpson said the Fixing Our Schools Fund would target Queensland schools with the biggest maintenance backlogs and was on top of the $200 million committed in last year’s budget.
“Last year the Newman Government announced that it would spend $200 million to provide every state school in Queensland with $160,000 to fix existing maintenance issues inherited from the previous Labor Government,” Ms Simpson said.
“Thanks to that funding five schools in the Maroochydore electorate received a total of $800,000 or $160,000 each to repair footpaths, replace carpet and repaint.
“The extra $100 million across the State will mean that all these schools – Pacific Paradise State School, Mooloolaba State School, Coolum State Primary School, Maroochydore State Primary School and Maroochydore State High School – will receive extra funding to clear their maintenance backlog.
“When I recently visited Pacific Paradise State School I was able to hear first-hand about how they’ve been able to drive their maintenance dollars further by having the ability to choose local contractors.
“More than half the school was painted during the summer holidays and the maintenance program overall had a major boost.”
Ms Simpson said the previous Labor Government had left Queensland state schools with a $292 million maintenance backlog that saw schools in the Maroochydore electorate fall into disrepair.
“Under the Newman Government, Queensland schools will once again be a place of pride for students to learn, teachers to teach and communities to gather.
“The Fixing Our Schools Fund will ensure Queensland remains a great state with great schools well into the future.”
