SA schools funding projects: Find out if your school is one of those to receive maintenance money
More than 100 South Australian schools have been named as the lucky winners of funding for dozens of building fixes of up to $900,000 each. SEE HOW MUCH YOUR SCHOOL IS GETTING
SA News
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An online list shows the lucky government schools that have won $25 million funding for the maintenance projects many have been waiting years for.
The State Government announced the funding this year as a COVID-19 slump hit the economy, and The Advertiser can reveal the details today with the money allocated to each school by the Education Department.
You can search the list for your school here:
The projects range from $900,000 for a large leaky roof and ceiling replacement at Seaview Downs Primary School, down to $20,000 for a restumping project at the cutely tiny Mil Lel Primary School outside Mt Gambier.
Education Minister John Gardner said the total funding boost was $32 million, including 500 sites because every preschool in the state would also be given $20,000.
“This multi-million maintenance boost is not only delivering long-awaited works at many of our schools, it’s providing a vital boost for small businesses and tradespeople across South Australia,’’ he said.
Seaview Downs is the biggest winner from the projects, with as well as the $900,000 roof project, $200,000 for Stormwater Remediation and $750,000 for toilet refurbishment.
The funding has only now come to light because of an FoI application by Opposition Assistant Education spokesman Blair Boyer, who said he suspected the money was going only to Liberal Party electorates.
Mr Boyer said after checking the list, he found 75 per cent of the money would be going to Liberal Party seats with only $4.3 per cent to seats held by Labor.
“Earlier this month the Opposition revealed that the Marshall Government provided $6 million
in sporting funding to 12 clubs – 11 of which were in Liberal seats,’’ he said.
But the criticism was rejected by Mr Gardner, who produced evidence from his time in Opposition of a $200 million backlog before the last State Election in 2018.
His own FoI application at the time showed 36 schools had needs of $1 million each with Stuart High in Whyalla topping the list at $2.03 million, while 131 schools were above $500,000.
“Our $25 million investment for maintenance upgrades across 116 government schools was allocated by the Department (independently of his office) on a priority basis, not postcodes,’’ he said.
“Many of the schools receiving much-needed priority upgrades are in country South Australia which were neglected by Labor for almost two decades.”
Mr Boyer called for the specific reasons for the allocation to each school to be released.
Mr Gardner said the $20,000 allocated to every public preschool in South Australia would be used for their most urgent maintenance work.
Two schools have won funding for four projects each; Surrey Downs R-7 School, and Marryatville High School.
Six schools have won funding for three projects each; West Beach Primary School, Penola High School, Peterborough High School, Ingle Farm Primary School, Cleve Area School, and Burra Community School.