School maintenance program ensures safe classrooms

The Bligh Government is investing $84 million in school maintenance in 2007-08 to ensure all students are able to learn in safe classrooms.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said this funding was in addition to the Government’s $445.5 million capital works program, which was building new schools and new classrooms for the state’s growing population.

“A safe learning environment for students and staff is the over-riding priority of our Government and every state school in Queensland,” Mr Welford said.

“Our school maintenance systems involve a thorough annual inspection of every state school by qualified QBuild staff where they identify and help prioritise maintenance work for each school.

“The most recent assessment earlier this year identified $99.3 million in priority school maintenance for completion by 30 June 2009.

“Maintenance is ongoing in our schools and some of those projects identified as part of the assessment have already been completed since then.

“The school maintenance program is a regular, sound process that serves our schools well and will continue to do so in the future.

“As any homeowner knows, buildings show signs of wear and tear as they age, and every building needs regular maintenance.

“In some years, the maintenance bill will be low, while in other years the maintenance budget will need to be much higher.

“State schools are no different, but with more than 20,000 buildings at 1251 state schools across Queensland, our task is bigger than most.

“Each year, every state school receives an allocation of funds to cover routine maintenance such as replacement of taps and minor repairs and painting.

“If there is an identified need above the school’s routine allocation, supplementary funds can be made available for essential work.”

Mr Welford said there were also a range of special maintenance programs centrally managed by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts for larger projects that were beyond the scope of an individual school’s maintenance program.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985