Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Nepean electorate schools

Sam GROTH (Nepean) (16:27): Ahead of the upcoming state budget I just want to flag some funding requirements for schools in my local electorate. Rye Primary School has asked for funding for an external staircase to provide access for students to the second level of classrooms, student bathroom refurbishments and repairs to their roofing and drainage.

St Joseph’s primary down in Sorrento continues to face a major setback with the government’s school bus program not being extended. That has left the school now out of pocket $65,000, and these are resources that could otherwise be used for educational purposes.

Tootgarook Primary remains the only school in my electorate without a fully covered outdoor space or basketball court. The current facilities – and I have been down there – are cracked. The rough asphalt is causing injuries to students at the school. This desperately needs to be replaced.

Each of these schools, as well as others, has major funding needs that are not currently being addressed, and I hope they will be in this year’s budget. My community, the parents, kids and our local schools need to be treated equally by the government, just as the rest of metropolitan Melbourne is, and provided with the funding they desperately need and deserve.