19.9 C
Byron Shire
March 28, 2024

$16m needed to fix north coast schools: Labor

Latest News

Carrying and passing the torch

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit. 

Other News

Carrying and passing the torch

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit. 

State of confusion

If any of you watched Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, you would know that it was a...

Coveted Wollumbin Art Award open for young and old

Are you an artist in the Northern Rivers? Now is the time to get your art ready and submitted to the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre’s coveted biennial Wollumbin Art Award.

Dynamic, rustic yet polished

Animal Ventura is the brainchild of Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter Fernando Aragones. Growing up playing punk and reggae in noisy garage bands in Southern Brazil, Aragones ventured to Australia where the eclectic sounds of the Sydney music scene beckoned.

Protecting nature and naturism from prejudice in Byron Shire

A new regime of social repression is imposing itself over the Byron Shire. Supported by local conservatives, the NSW National Parks Wildlife Service is attacking diversity and a particular minority group in Byron Shire – naturists.

Belongil Beach nude bathing

I am very concerned about the proposed revocation of legal clothing-optional beach use at Tyagarah. When I was last in...

NSW opposition leader Luke Foley, centre, with Richmond MP Justine Elliot and Labor's state shadow police minister Walt Secord Photo supplied.
NSW opposition leader Luke Foley, centre, with Richmond MP Justine Elliot and Labor’s state shadow police minister Walt Secord Photo supplied.

More than 40 north coast schools need more than $16 million for repairs according to NSW Education Department documents released by NSW Labor today.

The documents obtained under freedom of information laws reveal the individual maintenance backlogs for 2,173 primary and high schools across the state – as at 30 June 2015.

Three north coast schools are at the top of the list.

They are Southern Cross school in East Ballina, which needs $1.66 million in repairs; Grafton High School needs more than $1.12 million in repairs and Murwillumbah High School needs $998,257 in works.

Opposition leader Luke Foley and shadow minister for the north coast Walt Secord slammed the figures, which show a maintenance backlog across the state of $732 million.

‘Schools across the state are crumbling under the Nationals,’ Mr Foley said.

‘The maintenance backlog is spiraling out control. North Coast schools are being neglected while the government brawls with itself over how to spend billions on sporting stadiums in Sydney. Local schools need to be properly maintained to ensure the best environment for learning.’

Mr Secord said the schools needed an urgent cash injection.

‘If the schools are unsuitable and unsafe, teachers cannot teach and kids cannot learn,’ he said.

‘The government isn’t keeping up with the repairs bill and the reality is many local schools will never be up to scratch under the Nationals. It’s yet another example of the Nationals taking the north coast for granted.’

Labor’s list of backlog claims

Southern Cross School $1,662,784
Grafton High School 1,125,892
Murwillumbah High School 998,257
Kingscliff High School 906,140
Kingscliff High School 906,140
Evans River Community School 594,604
Maclean High School 587,060
Ballina Public School 553,840
Mullumbimby Public School 540,367
South Grafton High School 511,314
Casino High School 466,587
Tweed River High School 421,443
Lismore High School 393,445
Ballina High School 377,048
Bilambil Public School 375,523
Lismore Public School 366,890
Nimbin Central School 332,315
Ocean Shores Public School 330,677
South Grafton Public School 321,652
Maclean Public School 268,138
Alstonville High School 262,098
Byron Bay Public School 261,239
Terranora Public School 249,962
Casino West Public School 245,747
Lismore Heights Public School 238,562
Pottsville Beach Public School 233,773
Lismore South Public School 227,295
Murwillumbah Public School 225,377
Brunswick Heads Public School 213,575
Murwillumbah East Public School 199,949
Mullumbimby High School 196,214
Banora Point High School 190,572
Kingscliff Public School 190,002
Kingscliff Public School 190,002
Grafton Public School 187,609
Tweed Heads Public School 183,725
Lennox Head Public School 137,511
Tweed Heads South Public School 131,077
Albert Park Public School 119,537
Broadwater Public School 112,957
Woodburn Public School 103,847
Stokers Siding Public School 89,817
Murwillumbah South Infants School 64,813
Bogangar Public School 62,338
Total Backlog $16,357,714

 


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

1 COMMENT

  1. Was Bairds announcement last week a joke? The state government is earmarking 1.6 billion dollars(that is billion) for improvements on three Sydney sport stadiums. Unbelievable,

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Splendour 2024 cancelled

It's official, Splendour in the Grass 2024 has been cancelled.

We just love him!

If you’re over 50 you might not be a fan of Tom Jones, but you can bet your mum is. If you’re under 40 you might not even know who he is, but your grandmother probably wet her pants at the mere mention of his name.

Peter Garrett gives Bluesfest the nod

If I say the words ‘US Forces give the nod’, I can pretty much guarantee that you will hear the unmistakable voice of Peter Garrett ringing in your ears. Your head may even start to bob up and down a bit. 

Save Wallum finalist in NSW 2024 environment awards

The Save Wallum campaign has been named as a finalist in the Nature Conservation Council of NSW Environment Awards 2024. The award ceremony will be held in Sydney tonight, and Save Wallum spokesperson and ecologist James Barrie will be attending with Tegan Kitt, another founding member of the group.