Jemena pay dispute causes rolling blackouts at Pascoe Vale Primary

A LONG-awaited electricity upgrade for Pascoe Vale Primary School was cancelled on the day it was supposed to be done because contractors weren’t convinced they would be paid.

A LONG-awaited electricity upgrade for Pascoe Vale Primary School was cancelled on the day it was supposed to be done because contractors weren’t convinced they would be paid.

The school community had been waiting for the upgrade for almost two and half years after being plagued by constant blackouts.

A community hub, with classrooms and a a gym, was expected to open in July, but remains unusable and fenced off because it can’t be powered without the upgrade.

Electricity supplier Jemena booked a contractor to do the work on September 4 but it was cancelled at the last minute.

The new building is fenced off and unusable.

Jemena media and external affairs manager Michael Pintabona said the works were shelved because the school and the Department of Education couldn’t resolve who would pay for it.

But department senior media adviser Linh Sailsbury blamed a scheduling error.

She said the department would pay for the upgrade in full.

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Disappointed school council president Paul Wise said a temporary generator had been used to boost power supply at the school.

A new building that had been due to open in July had sat unused while the school waited for the electricity upgrade.

“After two and a half years it was all signed off and the electrical contractor rings (school principal Anne Naughton) and says they have pulled the authority on the day this thing is supposed to be connected,” Mr Wise said.

“This new building that we paid for has sat dormant, unable to be used because we can’t power it.”

Mr Wise said the empty hub was a blow to the students who are crammed in eight relocatable classrooms.

The generator needed to boost power supply. Picture: Ellen Smith

The works have been rescheduled to take place today, with the school promised power at the beginning of the fourth term.

School parent Bec Drake said the students were disappointed when a two-night art show on September 12 and 13 had to be moved.

The show was set to act as a grand opening for a new self-funded community hub at the school, but was moved to an old building due to the power debacle.

The school is currently working with architects to draw up a masterplan to replace its eight relocatable classrooms thanks to $3 million in funding from the State Government.

Mr Wise said the school was seeking more funding commitments to ensure the masterplan would be delivered.

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