Linton school gets new cash injection

LINTON Primary School is receiving more than $190,000 from the State Government for essential maintenance at its Adair Street base.

The funding was announced recently by Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and follows a Federal Government allocation in April of $477,734 for an upgraded basketball court and landscaping.

Ms Haylett said Linton was among 59 schools to share in more than $20 million for 62 maintenance projects under the Government’s Planned Maintenance Program (PMP).

Linton’s share is $190,621, while Bridgewater on Loddon Primary School will receive $405,508 and Trawalla Primary School $74,872.

Ms Haylett said the PMP provides funding for high-priority maintenance issues in government schools.

“The program ensures schools can undertake essential work in classrooms and other school buildings such as fixing roofs and replacing windows, painting, and resurfacing floors, as well as some external works like improving pathways,” she said.

“Works are determined by a rolling facilities evaluation process, which provides up-to-date information on the condition of schools to create a faster and more targeted allocation on funding.”

Ms Haylett said the Government had invested $16.9 billion over the past 10 years to build new schools and deliver more than 2200 upgrades – supporting more than 26,000 jobs in construction and associated industries.

She said the Government is now ahead of schedule in its commitment to open 100 new schools by 2026, with 75 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024.

Acting Minister for Education Gayle Tierney also hailed the funding announcement, saying the Government was constantly evaluating its schools and making sure every classroom is safe, engaging, and “will complement the top-class education we are committed to providing”.

“This program is about ensuring that every Victorian school is kept up to date, so that every child can access a high-quality education in a high-quality environment,” Ms Tierney said.