Schools across NSW to enjoy cooler conditions with $500 million airconditioning fund
UP to 1000 public schools will be fitted with airconditioning in one of the biggest upgrades to classroom amenity standards in the state’s history. The decision will form the $500 million education centrepiece of next week’s state Budget.
NSW
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UP to 1000 NSW public schools will be fitted with airconditioning in one of the biggest upgrades to classroom amenity standards in the state’s history.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the education centrepiece of next week’s state Budget is a $500 million fund to aircondition classrooms across the state.
More schools than ever before in NSW’s hottest areas will automatically be airconditioned under the plan, and other schools will have a better chance of getting the amenity.
In addition, every new school and every existing school being upgraded will be airconditioned.
When existing schools apply, the government will consider things like humidity at the school, the design of classrooms and how many students and staff there are — a far broader ranger of considerations than the current criteria based on average temperature.
Schools immediately in line for airconditioning to be installed include Ballina High School, Marsden Park Primary School, Penrith Public School, Oran Park High School and Yass High School.
The policy solidifies education as a major election battleground with today’s announcement outstripping Labor’s Cool Schools policy by $200 million, and 400 extra schools.
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Labor announced its policy in March, but the government has clearly signalled its intention to steal the march on the heartland issue.
“This is something that parents and school communities have called out for,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
The government has carefully considered the running costs of the program and will offset the electricity required with solar panels where possible.
Systems will automatically shut down after school hours.
Specific requirements for existing schools to apply for the funding will be released in coming weeks.
Education Minister Rob Stokes said detailed work would be done in rolling out the project.
“Airconditioning such a vast number of schools is a significant undertaking that requires careful consideration of the economic and environmental impacts, now and into the future,” he said.
Under the plan, schools will get “smart systems” that offer heating, cooling, humidity control and fresh air.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said education was a “cornerstone” of any good budget and it was the government’s strong economic management that made way for the scale of the airconditioning scheme.
“That’s why we invested record amounts in capital expenditure in last year’s budget and that’s why we’re investing record amounts in amenities in this year’s budget,” he said.
Last year the government committed $4.2 billion over four years to capital investment in schools across the state.
THE SCHOOLS LIKELY TO BE FIRST FOR AIR CONDITIONING
- Ballina High School
- Dubbo Networked Specialist School
- Hurlstone Agricultural High School
- Marsden Park Primary School
- Penrith Public School
- North Kellyville Public School
- Oran Park High School
- Bardia Public School
- Smalls Road Primary School
- Warnervale Primary School
- Yandelora School
- Yass High School
- Cecil Hills Public School
- Claremont Meadows Public School
- Fairvale High School
- Roy Watts High School (On site of Hurlstone Ag High)
- Greystanes Public School
- Ingleburn High School
- Marsden Road Public School
- Merrylands Public School
- Parramatta West Public School
- Pendle Hill Public School
- William Stimson Public School
- Yagoona Public School
- Narellan/Yandelora School
Does your child’s school deserve an upgrade? Let us know in the comments.