MEDIA RELEASE: Maitland school maintenance backlog reaches nearly $14 million
The crumbling state of schools across NSW has worsened under the Baird Government with the school maintenance backlog growing by more than $43 million in just 12 months.
Documents obtained by the Labor Opposition have revealed the school maintenance backlog has ballooned to more than $775 million; up from $732 million last financial year.
The latest documents show the individual maintenance backlog for 21 government schools in Maitland as at June 30 2016. The data shows:
There are four schools with an individual maintenance backlog in excess of $1 million in Maitland
Six schools have a backlog in excess of $500,000;
There are no schools with a backlog bill of less than $10,000;
Maitland’s ten most dilapidated schools have a combined backlog bill of $11,549,114.
A wide range of works are needed across NSW schools including toilet and sewer upgrades, carpet replacement, painting, fixing damaged rooves, installing guttering, replacing windows and other general repairs.
Maitland’s most rundown school, Rutherford Technology High School had a staggering $1,955,443 worth of needed repairs and maintenance that were yet to be addressed.
The school maintenance backlog follows a series of appalling revelations about the state of NSW public schools with the Opposition uncovering a school overcrowding crisis during budget estimate hearings.
The hearings uncovered that more than a third of NSW public schools are at or above capacity.
The maintenance backlog has shown once again that the Baird Government has no plan to bring our overcrowded schools up to standard.
Quotes attributable to Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison
“Children in Maitland schools are being forced to learn in second rate environments because the Baird Government has failed to address the growing maintenance backlog.
“Principals in Maitland are doing the best they can with the meagre resources that they have at their disposal.
“Mr Baird needs to explain to parents why he is allowing their children to sit in classrooms that fail to make the grade."
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Rutherford Technology High School has a maintenance backlog of $1,955,443
Maitland High School has a maintenance backlog of $1,827,744
Maitland Grossmann High School has a maintenance backlog of $1,768,071
Francis Greenway High School has a maintenance backlog of $1,276,706
Thornton Public School has a maintenance backlog of $930,403
Telarah Public School has a maintenance backlog of $912,562
Rutherford Public School has a maintenance backlog of $896,753
Maitland East Public School has a maintenance backlog of $790,234
Maitland Public School has a maintenance backlog of $689,406
Bolwarra Public School has a maintenance backlog of $501,792
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