Colo High School is undergoing a $3.4 million facelift as part of the NSW Government’s record investment of $747 million over four years, which is addressing roofing, flooring, painting and other maintenance projects at schools across the State.
Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet and Education Minister Rob Stokes visited Colo High School today (Friday) where they viewed progress of the works.
Mr Perrottet said it was rewarding as local member to see how the investment in school maintenance is helping to ensure local students enjoy the best possible learning environments.
“I am delighted to see Colo High School students are enjoying the benefits of this work,” Mr Perrottet said. “The school really is looking in superb shape.”
Mr Stokes said that in total $3.4 million is being spent this financial year to carry out a large number of maintenance projects across the school.
“The Government’s school maintenance blitz is resulting in a phenomenal amount of work being done to tackle school maintenance lists across the entire State,” Mr Stokes said.
“Colo High School is a great example of how this investment is being rolled out across NSW and the positive impact it is having on students and teachers.”
Mr Perrottet said many government schools in the Hawkesbury are benefitting from the government’s school maintenance blitz, with the latest audit by the Department of Education showing local school maintenance lists had fallen sharply from $12.55 million in June 2016 to $4.11 million in December 2017.
“The $747 million we are spending across the State, including at schools like Colo High School, dwarfs the $214 million committed by Labor in its final four years of Government,” Mr Perrottet said.
The maintenance projects being addressed this year at Colo High School include:
• painting all classrooms, the library, the gym and the science, art, drama spaces
• upgrading the change rooms
• repairs to roofing
• upgrades to shade awnings and walkways
• replacement of damaged guttering and downpipes
• replacement of fencing, including at the electrical substation
• repairs and resurfacing of the driveway and carparks
• replacement of the damaged bus bay fencing
• repair and replacement of retaining walls, stairs and pathways due to tree damage
• removal of trees that were causing damage to the structure of the school
• installation of a new covered outdoor learning area
• upgrades to staff and administration areas
The school maintenance list does not include projects that pose a safety risk to students or staff as these items are addressed immediately.
Similarly, any broken items in classrooms that impact on teaching and learning are addressed as a priority by the school or Department.
The NSW Government is also spending $4.2 billion over four years building 120 new or upgraded schools. This is the biggest investment in public school infrastructure in the history of NSW.