The NSW Government has announced the first schools to receive air conditioning under its Cooler Classrooms program, with 26 schools in the Hawkesbury set to benefit.
Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet said the $500 million Cooler Classrooms Fund was part of a record spend on education by the Government.
“I’m pleased that schools across the Hawkesbury, including Richmond High School and Windsor Public School, will benefit from the Cooler Classrooms Fund,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This is part of the Government’s continued commitment to providing environments where our students and teachers can best succeed,” Mr Perrottet said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Rob Stokes said more than 900 schools would be the first to receive funding under the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s record $500 million program – the largest investment of its kind in NSW history.
“We’re thrilled to be delivering on our commitment to provide healthy learning environments in which our students and teachers can thrive, no matter the weather,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Robyn Preston, who was recently pre-selected by the Liberal Party to stand for the seat of Hawkesbury at the March election, said students and teachers could look forward to a better learning environment in the very near future.
“Schools right across the Hawkesbury will have upgraded facilities from the Cooler Classrooms Fund,” Ms Preston said.
“This is an important commitment which will really benefit thousands of students and their teachers getting better facilities in which to study and work.”
Schools in areas that have an average maximum January temperature of 30 degrees or more will now automatically receive air conditioning in their classrooms and libraries, while all other schools can apply for funding under the Cooler Classrooms Fund on a needs basis.
Previously only schools with an average maximum January temperature of 33 degrees or more were air conditioned.
The first round of applications took place throughout Term 3 last year. A second round will open this year.
Mr Stokes said, unlike Labor’s plans, the NSW Liberals & Nationals’ Cooler Classrooms programme was both economically and environmentally sustainable.
“We’re installing solar panels and ‘smart systems’ alongside the air conditioning units, so schools can offset their additional energy use and efficiently heat and cool their schools,” he said.
In addition to the hundreds of schools benefiting under the Cooler Classrooms program, air conditioning will be delivered in all new and upgraded schools under the Government’s record $6 billion school building programme over the next four years.
“Every one of our 170 new and upgraded schools, including more than 2,000 new classrooms, will also receive the new sustainable air conditioning systems,” Mr Stokes said.
Schools that will have their classrooms and libraries air conditioned under round one in the Hawkesbury include:
Bligh Park Public School
Brewongle Environmental Education Centre
Cattai Public School
Colo Heights Public School
Colo High School
Comleroy Road Public School
Ebenezer Public School
Freemans Reach Public School
Glossodia Public School
Grose View Public School
Hawkesbury High School
Hobartville Public School
Kurmond Public School
Kurrajong East Public School
Longneck Lagoon Environmental Education Centre
Maraylya Public School
Oakville Public School
Pitt Town Public School
Richmond High School
Richmond North Public School
Richmond Public School
Wilberforce Public School
Windsor High School
Windsor Park Public School
Windsor Public School
Windsor South Public School
School principals are encouraged to apply to the second round of the Fund, which will open on Day 1 of Term 1 this year.
More information can be found at http://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.a