Schools get funds for bushfire prep and maintenance works

SEVERAL schools in the Geelong region and beyond are receiving state government funding to improve their bushfire preparedness ahead of summer as well as to carry out essential maintenance.

Across western Victoria, 19 schools are among 332 across the state to share in funding from the $9.15 million Bushfire Preparedness (Vegetation) Program for 2022-23.

The program was introduced in 2018 to assist schools in carrying out essential vegetation clearance works before the bushfire season and in line with municipal Fire Danger Periods.

Schools eligible for the program are among those identified as being at risk and listed on the Bushfire at Risk Register.

They are required to undertake vegetation works on a regular basis to mitigate the risk of harm to the school’s community and buildings in the event of a bushfire.

Schools receiving the Bushfire Preparedness (Vegetation) Program funding include:

Deans Marsh Primary School – $19,172.02

Forrest Primary School – $18,025.23

Carlisle River Primary School – $16,928.93

Brauer Secondary College – $17,569.56

Anglesea Primary School – $22,837.26

Aireys Inlet Primary School – $19,951.43

Lavers Hill K-12 College – $25,430.87

Timboon P-12 School – $30,565.78, and

Lorne P-12 College – $25,300.54

As well as this, 47 schools will share in $4.275 million in Term 2 funding for projects under the Planned Maintenance Program (PMP).

The program ensures schools can undertake essential work to grounds and classrooms such as fixing roofs and windows, painting, resurfacing floors and replacing windows, as well as external landscaping works such as pathways and lighting.

Deans Marsh Primary School is among these schools and will get a $25,000 grant.

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 of PMP funding.

More than $1.8 million will go towards maintenance of Shelter-in-Place buildings at 11 schools. These buildings serve as a temporary shelter for staff and students during a bushfire until emergency services arrive, or as a shelter of last resort.

The funding is on top of $5.84 million already provided to 57 schools through Term 1 PMP allocations and ensures existing buildings at Victoria’s 1,500 state schools are safe, modern and properly maintained.

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney announced the allocations last week.

“I’m really pleased to see schools in western Victoria share in funding that will see some get much-needed maintenance projects off the ground, and others be as prepared as they can be this bushfire season by getting on to works that will help mitigate the risk of fire,” she said.

“These investments ensure students in western Victoria can learn in well-maintained and safe settings that complement the top-class education we are committed to providing.”

For the full list of schools receiving funding under the PMP, head to schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/Pages/Planned-Maintenance-Funding