Labor’s candidate for the state seat of Lismore, Janelle Saffin, has come out fighting, claiming her opponent’s party has left schools in Lismore millions of dollars out of pocket.
Ms Saffin, who was the federal member for Page up until 2013, says the problem stems from inadequate resourcing following last year’s floods.
According to figures the opposition has obtained under freedom of information, that the school maintenance backlog in Lismore has increased from $11 million to $21 million – an increase of 93 per cent.
Of these five secondary schools in the electorate have a combined maintenance backlog of more than $5 million.
Of these four were directly affected by the floods.
They are The Rivers Secondary College (both Lismore and Kadina campuses), Wollumbin High and Murwillumbah High.
The Rivers Secondary College Kadina High Campus has the highest maintenance backlog in the electorate with a staggering $1.7 million.
Ms Saffin was joined by state Labor leader Luke Foley today outside the school to make the point.
She said Lismore teachers and students ‘need well-maintained facilities to create the best learning environments’.
‘The community has a right to be angry that they are being overlooked while this government splurges $2.7 billion on Sydney stadiums,’ Ms Saffin said.
The full list
| School | Maintenance Liability (December 2017) |
| The Rivers Secondary College Kadina High Campus | |
| Wollumbin High School | 1,624,520 |
| Woodenbong Central School | 1,210,484 |
| Murwillumbah High School | 1,201,088 |
| The Rivers Secondary College Lismore High Campus | 1,025,082 |
| Kyogle High School | 922,758 |
| Goonellabah Public School | 875,100 |
| Lismore Public School | 845,458 |
| Kyogle Public School | 810,652 |
| Murwillumbah Public School | 808,865 |
| Lismore Heights Public School | 641,974 |
| Barkers Vale Public School | 499,559 |
| Albert Park Public School | 477,924 |
| Tabulam Public School | 437,464 |
| Wyrallah Road Public School | 426,834 |
| Bonalbo Central School | 410,803 |
| Uki Public School | 401,113 |
| Nimbin Central School | 393,345 |
| Tyalgum Public School | 326,136 |
| Stokers Siding Public School | 308,250 |
| Tenterfield High School | 306,840 |
| Lismore South Public School | 301,932 |
| Blakebrook Public School | 249,155 |
| Bexhill Public School | 245,176 |
| Old Bonalbo Public School | 235,683 |
| Urbenville Public School | 221,824 |
| Caniaba Public School | 216,334 |
| Corndale Public School | 211,486 |
| Crystal Creek Public School | 206,855 |
| Modanville Public School | 199,258 |
| Tregeagle Public School | 197,332 |
| Wyrallah Public School | 185,297 |
| Rosebank Public School | 183,381 |
| Eltham Public School | 180,898 |
| The Channon Public School | 177,478 |
| Jiggi Public School | 165,571 |
| Larnook Public School | 148,653 |
| Coffee Camp Public School | 143,627 |
| Chillingham Public School | 141,863 |
| The Risk Public School | 140,144 |
| Clunes Public School | 134,949 |
| Mummulgum Public School | 129,017 |
| Rukenvale Public School | 127,380 |
| Drake Public School | 112,961 |
| Dorroughby Environmental Education Centre | 106,742 |
| Dunoon Public School | 106,622 |
| Whian Whian Public School | 101,256 |
| The Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Public School | 96,561 |
| Dungay Public School | 95,887 |
| Collins Creek Public School | 90,723 |
| Afterlee Public School | 90,315 |
| Doubtful Creek Public School | 85,838 |
| Jennings Public School | 69,894 |
| Wiangaree Public School | 69,155 |
| Goolmangar Public School | 62,915 |
| Tuntable Creek Public School | 59,409 |
| Wilson Park School | 22,285 |
| Mingoola Public School | 5,062 |
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